En bloc capsulectomy in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory, chronic, recurrent pseudophakic endophthalmitis.

Anterior chamber and vitreous aspiration may fail to isolate a microorganism in chronic pseudophakic endophthalmitis. In some eyes, obtaining a portion of the central posterior lens capsule may assist in determining the infectious etiology of the endophthalmitis. We describe a technique by which the entire lens capsule and its internal contents are removed and cultured. This surgical method facilitated the isolation and eradication of the causative pathogen in a patient with chronic recurrent pseudophakic endophthalmitis that was diagnostically and therapeutically refractory to previous vitrectomy, posterior capsulectomy, and intravitreal antibiotic injection.