Review of sterile, postoperative, anterior segment inflammation following cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate unexpected, acute intraocular anterior segment inflammation following uneventful cataract extraction by phacoemulsification and foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation.

METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated five cases of postoperative inflammation that occurred after cataract extraction with foldable PCIOL implantation. Medical records were reviewed to analyze the unexplained postoperative inflammation.

RESULTS: The five patients who developed inflammatory activity during the postoperative period responded well to corticosteroid treatment. Toxic maculopathy developed in one patient after aggressive antibacterial therapy. Vitrectomy was performed for one patient with prolonged vitreal inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Noninfectious endophthalmitis developing upon surgery may be caused by a multifactorial process or an interindividual variable response to a common factor as a hypersensitivity reaction. It should be remembered in inflammatory cases after surgery in order to prevent the toxic, irreversible side effects of bacterial endophthalmitis treatment.