Incidence of endophthalmitis in a large series of 23-gauge and 20-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy

Abstract

To study the incidence of endophthalmitis after 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and to compare it with the endophthalmitis rate after 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy performed in the same ophthalmology department. The charts of 4,021 consecutive 20-gauge or 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomies performed at a single institution, between August 1 2003 and April 1 2008, were reviewed to search for the occurrence of postoperative endophthalmitis. This is a retrospective, interventional, comparative cohort study. Endophthalmitis developed in one of 3,078 eyes after 20-gauge vitrectomy (0.03%) and in none of 943 eyes after 23-gauge vitrectomy. We did not find an increased risk of endophthalmitis after 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy.