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

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

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSIONS: 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.