Endophtalmies chroniques postopératoires

Chronic postoperative endophthalmitis designates delayed-onset postoperative endophthalmitis appearing more than two weeks after surgery, revealed by chronic intraocular inflammation with phases of inflammatory recurrence, which, at the beginning of the disease course, is partially sensitive to local corticosteroid treatment. It differs therefore from acute endophthalmitis in the immediate postoperative phase, from acute differed endophthalmitis after filtrating surgery, which appears years after the surgery, and from endogenous endophthalmitis. The most frequent presentation is granulomatous uveitis, often hypertonic, in an eye operated for cataract, presenting phases of recurrence sensitive to corticosteroid therapy but which recurs as soon as treatment is interrupted. Whitish condensations in plaques on the posterior capsule suggest the diagnosis and over several months the vitreous becomes inflamed. Ocular samples allow cytological analysis of an infectious process and bacteriological analysis in culture and with PCR. Treatment includes lavage of the sac with vancomycin and can be associated with posterior capsulectomy and intravitreal injections of antibiotics possibly associated with systemic antibiotic therapy. Treatment is prolonged because of the slow replication of the microorganisms involved. In approximately one-third of cases, the implant, the capsule, and the sac must be removed over 360° to permanently halt the intraocular infection. The diagnosis and specific treatment should be as early as possible since the aggressiveness of the treatment required is correlated with the time to management of the infection.