Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:1312-1315 ( November )
Intraocular lens implants and risk of endophthalmitis
J W B Bainbridge,a
M Teimory,a
H Tabandeh,a
J F Kirwan,a
R Dalton,a
F Reid,b
C K Rostrona
a Department of Ophthalmology, St George's Hospital, London SW17 0QT, b Department of Medical Statistics, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 0QT
Correspondence to: Mr Teimory, Worthing
Hospital, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2DH.
Accepted for publication 7 May 1998
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.
METHODSA 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.
RESULTS772 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).
CONCLUSIONThis study adds further evidence to the
concept that SPP IOLs can be a significant risk factor in the
development of postoperative endophthamitis.
Keywords:
cataract surgery;
phacoemulsification;
intraocular
lenses;
endophthalmitis
© 1998 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
