Incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the incidence rate of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery performed by Japanese surgeons.


METHODS
A sample of 20% of members of the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons was randomly selected. Each member was sent a postal survey asking for information on the number of cataract surgeries performed in 2003 and the number of postsurgery cases of endophthalmitis.


RESULTS
Replies were received from 78.7% (513/652) of survey recipients. The total number of cataract surgeries was 100 539, among which 52 cases of endophthalmitis occurred, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 0.052%. Incidence rates were 0.049% (38/78 170) for scleral incision phacoemulsification and 0.043% (9/20 894) for clear corneal incision phacoemulsification, with no significant difference between groups. The average annual volumes of surgery were 210 and 280 cases for surgeons who preferred scleral incision and clear corneal incision, respectively. There was a significant difference between volumes (Student's t-test, p < 0.01). The incidence of endophthalmitis was significantly lower with high-volume (> 300 cases/year) surgeons than with low-volume (< or = 300 cases/year) surgeons (0.040% versus 0.066%, chi-square test, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Japan as estimated by a postal survey was low (0.052%) and consistent with rates reported previously. Surgeons who preferred clear corneal incision performed significantly more surgeries annually, but the incidence of endophthalmitis was similar between scleral and clear corneal incision phacoemulsification surgery.
Oshika
Tetsuro
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. toshika@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Hatano
Hiroshi
H
Kuwayama
Yasuaki
Y
Ogura
Yuichiro
Y
Ohashi
Yuichi
Y
Oki
Kotaro
K
Uno
Toshihiko
T
Usui
Norio
N
Yoshitomi
Fumiaki
F
D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery