[Treatment of acute and chronic endophthalmitis following posterior chamber lens implantation].

Nine cases of postoperative endophthalmitis following extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber lens are presented -5 acute cases which occurred 3 to 5 days after surgery, and 4 subacute to chronic cases which occurred between 7 weeks and 18 months postoperatively. Experience has shown that in acute cases it is advisable, in addition to massive topical and parenteral therapy with antibiotics, to perform an emergency extraction of the posterior chamber lens and anterior or pars plana vitrectomy. In the subacute to chronic cases a step-by-step approach appears sensible: conservative treatment with massive topical and parenteral antibiotics and topical steroids; if this fails, removal of the lens, leaving the diaphragm in situ provided that the vitreous is not excessively infiltrated; if this also fails or there is extensive infiltration of the vitreous, removal of the posterior chamber lens with the capsular bag and vitrectomy with protection by antibiotics.