blindness after cataract surgery

[Anu66]

My mother age 64 underwent laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy successfully. A week later underwent catarct surgery for the other eye successfully. About 10 days later (after cataract surgery), she underwent cataract for this eye. Within 48hrs, there was no vision in the eye. Emergency Levofloxacin eye drops with prednisolone eye drops were started. 6 hrs after which Vancomycin 500mg injection was administered. The diagnosis was Endophthalmitis. On USG, it was shown that there is no retinal detachment. According to the Dr., the infection was responding to treatment. 10 days later, she was advised vitrectomy & 70% of fluid was removed. Inspite of this, vision hasn't improved. Again vancomycin & dexamethasone injections were given 10 days later. Still there is no change. Is there any hope for her. Our Dr. says, it might or might not. What's your opinion? If there is any chance of improvement, how long might it take?

[iqbal24]

A related discussion, no vision after cataract surgery was started.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

This is a very, very serious problem and the prognosis is guarded at best.  The vision sometimes can return to near in a minority of patients.  Most patients have significant loss of vision and some lose all, or nearly all of the vision.  At this point, it is a struggle to have any vision at all.  I may take 3 or 4 months or more to get any improvement at all.  The prognosis depends on the organism, how quckly the problem is identified and treated and the overall health of the eye and the patient.  A very good retina specialist is what you need mostly now and lots of prayers.  Feel free to post back to us again because this will be a very, very long, drawn out problem for many months.

Michael Kutryb, MD
Kutryb Eye Institute