The Role of Vitrectomy in the Management of Fungal Endophthalmitis

Semin Ophthalmol. 2017;32(1):29-35. doi: 10.1080/08820538.2016.1228396. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

Abstract

Fungal endophthalmitis is an important cause of vision loss worldwide with a large body of literature describing the treatment of the disease. The evidence supporting the use of pars plana vitrectomy in the management of fungal endophthalmitis is largely comprised of case reports and case series and demonstrates the important role of vitrectomy surgery. Vitrectomy can improve the likelihood of establishing the diagnosis, enhance the treatment of infection by removing fungal elements in the vitreous, aid in the removal of other inoculated intraocular structures, and is an important tool in the management of vision-threatening post-infectious sequelae like retinal detachment and epiretinal membrane.

Keywords: Fungal endophthalmitis; vitrectomy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Endophthalmitis / diagnosis*
  • Endophthalmitis / microbiology
  • Endophthalmitis / surgery
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / surgery
  • Humans
  • Vitrectomy*