IMMEDIATE VITRECTOMY vs TAP AND INJECT IN EYES WITH ACUTE POSTCATARACT ENDOPHTHALMITIS AND VISUAL ACUITY ≥HM: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract

To compare the outcomes of immediate pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and tap and inject in eyes with postcataract surgery endophthalmitis. Patients presenting with acute postcataract surgery endophthalmitis and visual acuity between ≥ hand movement and <6/18 were randomized to receive either PPV (Group A) or tap and inject (Group B). There were 26 and 31 eyes in Group A and Group B, respectively. The final mean visual acuity at 6 weeks [0.14 (Snellen equivalent 6/7.5) versus 0.22 (Snellen equivalent 6/9.5) LogMAR in Groups A and B, respectively; P = 0.2] was similar. However, eyes in Group A had significantly greater mean letter gain in vision compared with Group B (66.36 vs. 43.36, P = 0.02), and more eyes in Group A (88%) than in Group B (65%) attained a visual acuity of ≥ 6/18 ( P = 0.06). Eyes in Group B needed more reinterventions including delayed vitrectomy after tap and inject than those in Group A (39% vs. 8%; P = 0.09). On subgroup analysis, the mean visual acuity at the final follow-up was significantly better in the immediate PPV group compared with the delayed PPV group ( P = 0.04). PPV resulted in earlier recovery, lesser interventions, and greater change in visual acuity than tap and inject in eyes with postcataract surgery endophthalmitis presenting with visual acuity of ≥HM.