STERILE HYPOPYON FOLLOWING PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY AND SILICONE OIL INJECTION

To report five cases of postoperative sterile endophthalmitis in patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection for retinal detachment.

Review of the medical records of five patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection at Southend University Hospital and the Royal Eye Infirmary, Derriford Hospital, University Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, for rhegmatogenous or tractional retinal detachment.

All five patients presented with signs of anterior chamber inflammation exhibiting flare, fibrin, and hypopyon in the early or late postoperative period following vitrectomy with silicone oil injection. Treatment with topical antibiotics and steroids was began, with rapid resolution of the anterior chamber inflammatory reaction and no further intervention required.

The use of silicone oil as a tamponade agent for retinal detachment can rarely induce sterile anterior chamber inflammation with signs resembling infectious endophthalmitis. Onset of symptoms, absence of pain, and good response to topical steroids can help differentiate between the two entities.