[Pseudo- "toxic lens" syndrome over the course of 4 years caused by staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis]

A 79-year-old female patient presented with recurrent severe iridocyclitis after extracapsular cataract extraction and implantation of a PMMA posterior chamber lens in 1983: In April, June, July, September, October and December 1984 as well as April and August 1985 and January and April 1987, the uveitis appeared without a hypopyon and was diagnosed as a "toxic lens syndrome". Consequently, IOL explantation followed by anti-inflammatory and - intermittently - immunosuppressive therapy was performed in October 1984 with a resulting improvement in vision. In June 1987, the patient presented with a full-blown bacterial endophthalmitis, which required immediate pars plana vitrectomy. Lens cortex material and capsule residues were removed. Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from the vitreous aspirate using enrichment techniques. Antibiotic topical and systemic therapy was performed according to the antibiotic sensitivity test and resulted in a complete cure of the intraocular inflammation.