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Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:102-106 doi:10.1136/bjo.81.2.102
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Risk of endophthalmitis after cataract extraction: results from the International Cataract Surgery Outcomes study

  1. Jens Christian Norregaarda,c,
  2. Henrik Thoningb,
  3. Peter Bernth-Petersenc,
  4. Tavs Folmer Andersena,
  5. Jonathan C Javittd,
  6. Gerard F Andersone
  1. aDepartment of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark , bDanish Institute for Clinical Epidemiology, Copenhagen, Denmark , cDepartment of Ophthalmology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark , dWorthen Center for Eye Care Research, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA , eDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, USA
  1. Jens Christian Norregaard, MD, Department of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
  • Accepted 16 September 1996

Abstract

AIM To estimate risk of infectious endophthalmitis after cataract extraction in Denmark and to compare results with the risk of this complication in the USA

METHODS In the national Danish administrative hospital register, 19 426 patients were identified who underwent first eye cataract surgery from 1985 to 1987 and who were 50 years of age or older. Of these, 61 patients had postoperative endophthalmitis.

RESULTS A 12 month cumulative risk of rehospitalisation for endophthalmitis was estimated at 0.18% (95% CI 0.09–0.26) after extracapsular cataract extraction with lens implant. Advanced age, male sex, intracapsular cataract extraction, and anterior vitrectomy were all associated independently with an increased risk of postoperative endophthalmitis. When restricting the sample to patients aged 65 years or older, in order to allow comparisons to be made with the US National Study of Cataract Outcomes, a 12 month risk of 0.17% (95% CI 0.08–0.25) was estimated. The previously reported US risk of 0.12% is included in the confidence interval of the risk estimated in the Danish sample.

CONCLUSION Despite considerable differences in the healthcare systems, no statistically significant difference in outcome of surgery as measured by risk of endophthalmitis was shown between Denmark and the USA.

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