Longitudinal study of retinal status using optical coherence tomography after acute onset endophthalmitis following cataract surgery

To analyse the macula imaged with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients treated for acute postcataract endophthalmitis.

Patients presenting with acute postcataract endophthalmitis were included in this observational and multicentre study from January 2008 to December 2011. We recorded the following OCT data at the 3, 6 and 12-month visits: the central macular thickness, the perifoveal macular thickness, the central foveal point thickness and abnormalities of the outer retina, the macula and vitreoretinal interface.

46 patients were included in the OCT analysis. From month 3 to 12, epiretinal membrane (ERM) prevalence increased from 26% to 39%, vitreomacular traction prevalence decreased from 12% to 6%, non-tractional macular oedema (ME) prevalence varied between 7% and 13%. Only macular thinning remained stable at 10%. At month 12, a significant correlation was found between non-tractional ME and capsular rupture (at the time of cataract extraction, p=0.03). Eyes with an ERM exhibited increased central macular thickness (p=0.001) and lower visual acuity (VA) (p=0.02) at M12 in comparison to the group with normal macula. OCT analysis showed a significant association between ERM and the alteration of the ellipsoid band (p=0.02), as well as the external limiting membrane (ELM, p=0.07) at M12.

ERM and ME were the main macular abnormalities diagnosed after 1 year of follow-up, associated with VA less than or equal to 20/40 in 50% of the cases. Ultrastructural abnormalities of the ELM and the ellipsoid band were frequently observed in those patients.