Late-onset bacteria endophthalmitis following glaucoma drainage implantation.

A clinicopathologic report of late-onset bacterial endophthalmitis 4 years after implantation of a Baerveldt drainage implant is described. An 80-year-old woman with glaucoma presented 8 years after tube shunt implantation with clinical endophthalmitis. During surgical removal of the implant, a small conjunctival buttonhole caused by the suture securing the plate to the sclera was noted to be the only entry site. Vitreous and anterior chamber taps were performed with intravitreal antibiotics. Cultures revealed Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The pathologic analysis showed epithelialization of the conjunctival button-hole and diffuse ocular inflammation, mucopurulent material, and fibrovascular membranes. Due to severe pain, the eye was enudeated after 1 week.