title: Incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Japan.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. toshika@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors: Tetsuro
authors: T
authors: Oshika
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Hatano
authors: Yasuaki
authors: Y
authors: Kuwayama
authors: Yuichiro
authors: Y
authors: Ogura
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Ohashi
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Oki
authors: Toshihiko
authors: T
authors: Uno
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Usui
authors: Fumiaki
authors: F
authors: Yoshitomi
mesh_terms: 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