LATE-ONSET ENDOPHTHALMITIS ASSOCIATED WITH FILTERING BLEBS

A consecutive series of 71 cases of late onset endophthalmitis (define d as onset of symptoms at least 2 weeks after surgery) were reviewed t o determine the association of this entity with glaucoma surgery filte ring blebs and to identify any predisposing factors. Sixteen cases wer e associated with filtering blebs and two with inadvertent blebs follo wing cataract surgery. Onset of endophthalmitis ranged from 24 days to 20 years after surgery (mean, 6.9 years). Possible contributing facto rs included trauma, vitreous wicks, and bleb leak. Twelve cases were c ulture-positive, with 5 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis; 2, Staphy lococcus aureus, 4, Streptococcus; and 1, Pseudomonas. There were no c ases of Hemophilus. The more virulent organisms were generally associa ted with a poor visual outcome. The organisms recovered in this series were similar to those found in postoperative endophthalmitis not asso ciated with filtering blebs.