Management of endophthalmitis with pars plana vitrectomy.

Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics is an effective technique in the treatment of culture-proved endophthalmitis. Best results are obtained when the therapy is instituted early in the course of infection, preferably during the first 36 hours of the onset of symptoms, and when the infective organism is of low virulence. In our 20 cases of culture-proved endophthalmitis 17 eyes (85%) were saved and had some degree of useful vision. Thirteen (65%) eyes had a visual acuity of 20/400 or better. Three eyes (15%) were lost.