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Intraocular lens implants and risk of endophthalmitis
J W Bainbridge1, M Teimory, H Tabandeh
1Department of Ophthalmology, St George's Hospital, London.
Aim:
To investigate the possible association between the use of three piece foldable silicone polypropylene (SPP) intraocular lenses (IOLs) and an increased risk of postoperative endophthalmitis.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted of all cases of postoperative endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification surgery in a single unit over a 3 year period. The incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis in eyes with SPP IOLs was compared with the incidence in eyes with single piece polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOLs.
Results:
772 cataract extractions by phacoemulsification were performed. One (0.16%) of the 622 patients with PMMA IOLs developed endophthalmitis. Excluding one patient who had aplastic anaemia, five (3.33%) of 150 patients with SPP IOLs developed endophthalmitis. The relative risk for postoperative endophthalmitis associated with the use of the SPP IOL compared with the PMMA IOL was 20.1 (p = 0.015).
Conclusion:
This study adds further evidence to the concept that SPP IOLs can be a significant risk factor in the development of postoperative endophthamitis.