Management Patterns and Visual Outcomes of Endophthalmitis After Glaucoma Drainage Device Placement: A Case Series

To describe clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of eyes with endophthalmitis related to glaucoma drainage device (GDD) placement.

Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with GDD-related endophthalmitis at Duke Eye Center from 2009 to 2018.

Six eyes of 6 patients had endophthalmitis related to a GDD (2 Ahmed, 4 Baerveldt). The mean time from surgery to presentation was 22.7 months. Five of 6 cases (83%) had culture-proven infectious endophthalmitis. Eyes undergoing GDD explantation (n=2) had better visual acuity at 6 months compared with those without hardware removal (20/11,314 vs. 20/358). Visual acuity at 6 months was hand motion (20/8000) or worse in 3 of 6 cases (50%).

GDD-related endophthalmitis often leads to poor visual outcomes. Hardware removal may lead to improved visual outcomes; a multicenter prospective study assessing the benefit of hardware removal may be warranted.