Infectious endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Endophthalmitis is potentially the most devastating compli- cation of cataract surgery. For the purpose of this perspective it will be defined as intraocular infection attributed to elective cataract extraction with or without intraocular lens implantation. Ideally, all cases of endophthalmitis would be culture proved but culture negative cases that respond to antibiotic therapy are presumed to be infectious in origin despite lack of definitive proof. To this end, truly sterile postoperative inflammation resulting from phacoanaphylaxis is excluded. However, in phacoanaphylaxis it has been postulated that bacteria act as an adjuvant in stimulating a response to lens protein.' Additionally, the. exaggerated uveitic response resulting from excessive manipulation or the introduction of foreign material will also be excluded.