IMMEDIATE VITRECTOMY vs TAP AND INJECT IN EYES WITH ACUTE POSTCATARACT ENDOPHTHALMITIS AND VISUAL ACUITY ≥HM: A...

To compare the outcomes of immediate pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and tap and inject in eyes with postcataract surgery endophthalmitis.

Patients presenting with acute postcataract surgery endophthalmitis and visual acuity between ≥ hand movement and <6/18 were randomized to receive either PPV (Group A) or tap and inject (Group B).

There were 26 and 31 eyes in Group A and Group B, respectively. The final mean visual acuity at 6 weeks [0.14 (Snellen equivalent 6/7.5) versus 0.22 (Snellen equivalent 6/9.5) LogMAR in Groups A and B, respectively; P = 0.2] was similar. However, eyes in Group A had significantly greater mean letter gain in vision compared with Group B (66.36 vs. 43.36, P = 0.02), and more eyes in Group A (88%) than in Group B (65%) attained a visual acuity of ≥ 6/18 ( P = 0.06). Eyes in Group B needed more reinterventions including delayed vitrectomy after tap and inject than those in Group A (39% vs. 8%; P = 0.09). On subgroup analysis, the mean visual acuity at the final follow-up was significantly better in the immediate PPV group compared with the delayed PPV group ( P = 0.04).

PPV resulted in earlier recovery, lesser interventions, and greater change in visual acuity than tap and inject in eyes with postcataract surgery endophthalmitis presenting with visual acuity of ≥HM.