Management of infective endophthalmitis by pars plana vitrectomy.

Endophthalmitis is an ocular disaster that frequently leads to blindness. With the advent of vitrectomy and the opportunity for intraocular injection of antibiotics more of the eyes can be salvaged. In 11 patients the infection was controlled by vitrectomy. All had dramatic relief of pain, and eight showed an improvement in visual acuity. Pathogens were cultured from the aqueous or the vitreous, or both, of 64%, and from the conjunctival swabs of the remainder.