Prevention of endophthalmitis by intraocular solution filtration and antibiotics.

Gentamicin sulfate was used in a millipore-filtered irrigating solution for 12,000 cases of anterior segment surgery (extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation) without one occurrence of endophthalmitis. One instance of endophthalmitis occurred in eight cases in which unfiltered gentamicin sulfate solution was used. No side effects have been associated with the use of the millipore-filtered irrigating solution.