ACUTE- AND DELAYED-ONSET ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER OPEN GLOBE INJURIES: Clinical Features and Visual Acuity Outcomes

The purpose of the study was to report the clinical features and best-corrected visual acuity outcomes in patients with acute- and delayed-onset endophthalmitis after open globe injuries.

The study included a retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series of patients with endophthalmitis after open globe injury between January 2016 and October 2020 at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Acute-onset endophthalmitis accounted for 16 of 20 cases (80%), and all cases were diagnosed at the initial examination. Delayed-onset endophthalmitis cases, occurring more than 2 weeks after injury, accounted for 4 of 20 cases (20%) and were because of Zone 1 wound leaks and infections. Factors associated with endophthalmitis included presence of a retained intraocular foreign body (11/20 [55%]) and delay of presentation >24 hours (15/20 [75%]) ( P < 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). The mean presenting best-corrected visual acuity was logMAR 1.64 (20/800), and the mean best-corrected visual acuity at the last follow-up was logMAR 1.22 (20/300).

In patients with open globe injury-related endophthalmitis, visual acuity outcomes are generally poor. Despite intravitreal antibiotics at primary closure, delayed-onset endophthalmitis cases may develop in the setting of compromised Zone 1 wound integrity.