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A Comparison of Endophthalmitis after Phacoemulsification or Extracapsular Cataract Extraction in a Socio-Economically Deprived Environment: A Retrospective Analysis of 2446 Patients

2002; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 12; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/112067210201200509

1724-6016

P. Kalpadakis, Ioannis Tsinopoulos, Günther Rudolph, Kirsten Schebitz, Stephan J. Froehlich,

Ocular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome

Purpose To assess which cataract operation technique involves least risk of postoperative endophthalmitis, when performed in a population living in poor hygiene conditions. Methods This retrospective clinical study evaluated 2446 cases at the Eye Clinic of the Komotini General Hospital, Greece, between January 1998 and January 2001. Results Endophthalmitis arose in 12/1055 patients (1.13%) after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and in 8/1391 after phacoemulsification (0.57%). The mean time to onset of endophthalmitis was 23 and 73 days respectively after phacoemulsification and ECCE. This difference was statistically significant. Conclusions Endophthalmitis develops considerably later after ECCE than phacoemulsification. Thus it would appear that hygiene conditions have a stronger effect in patients operated with the ECCE technique. In order to reduce the risk of endophthalmitis after cataract extraction in patients living in substandard conditions, phacoemulsification is proposed as preferable to ECCE.