Vitreous hemorrhage as the initial presentation of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To describe a patient with postoperative endophthalmitis whose only abnormal finding at presentation was a vitreous hemorrhage.

DESIGN:

Interventional case report.

METHODS:

A 68-year-old diabetic woman underwent cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation in the left eye. Three days after surgery, she had painless loss of vision, minimal anterior chamber inflammation, and dense vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye.

RESULTS:

On the fourth postoperative day, significant anterior chamber inflammation developed with fibrin and a hypopyon. During vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic injection, an area of retinitis surrounding an eroded retinal blood vessel was found. Cultures of undiluted vitreous fluid grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus organisms. The endophthalmitis resolved and 20 months later, her best-corrected visual acuity had improved to 20/40.

CONCLUSION:

Postoperative endophthalmitis may present as a vitreous hemorrhage, secondary to retinitis and erosion of a retinal blood vessel.

• Authors: Asheesh Tewari, Enrique Garcia-Valenzuela, Dean Eliott
• Journal: American journal of ophthalmology (Am J Ophthalmol) Vol. 134 Issue 2 Pg. 274-5 (Aug 2002) ISSN: 0002-9394 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12140041 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Aged
• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Cataract Extraction
• Drug Therapy, Combination (therapeutic use)
• Endophthalmitis (diagnosis, microbiology, therapy)
• Eye Infections, Bacterial (diagnosis, microbiology, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Lens Implantation, Intraocular
• Postoperative Complications (diagnosis, microbiology, therapy)
• Staphylococcal Infections (diagnosis, microbiology, therapy)
• Staphylococcus (isolation & purification)
• Vitrectomy
• Vitreous Hemorrhage (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)