Infectious complications of modern cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation

Over one million intraocular lenses are implanted each year during cataract surgery in the United States alone. Despite an impressive overall success rate, infection remains an important postoperative complication. Virtually every microbial organism has the potential to be an intraocular pathogen, and this article addresses both generalized and localized forms of microbial endophthalmitis. Successful outcome requires prompt clinical recognition, appropriate laboratory evaluation, initiation of antimicrobial therapy, control of inflammatory sequelae, and when necessary, surgical intervention.