Post-Operative Infections Associated with Cataract Surgery

Post-operative surgical infection represents an uncommon but potentially devastating complication of cataract surgery. In the past several decades, cataract surgery has made major advances with the introduction of small-incision phacoemulsification, viscoelastic substances, and improved lens designs, as well as refinement of surgical techniques. As a result, postoperative care has become simpler and visual recovery has become much faster. Due to these factors, the incidence of post-operative infectious complications has also generally declined. In fact, the incidence of post-operative endophthalmitis has decreased since the mid-1900s from 0.5% to 0.04%-0.41% in the early 21st century (Kattan, et al, Ravindran, et al). In the past decade, however, these rates appear to have increased due to the greater use of clear corneal incision techniques. As such, it is fundamentally important for the cataract surgeon to be familiar with recognition, etiology, and management of post-operative endophthalmitis.