UK Study Finds Early Vitrectomy Improves Vision in Acute Endophthalmitis

A phase‑2 randomised controlled trial involving 63 patients at 21 hospitals across the United Kingdom evaluated early vitrectomy performed within 48–96 hours of diagnosis of acute endophthalmitis, a rare but sight‑threatening bacterial infection of the eye. The study, led by researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital, compared this surgical approach with the conventional regimen of repeated intra‑ocular antibiotic injections followed by delayed surgery if needed.

At six months, patients who received early vitrectomy showed a median gain of 40 letters on a visual acuity chart, more than three times the improvement seen in the antibiotic‑first group, which achieved a median gain of 13 letters. The results suggest that prompt surgical removal of the infected vitreous humour can substantially enhance visual recovery and reduce the psychological burden of potential blindness.

The trial’s findings were published in the journal Communications Medicine and may inform future treatment guidelines for acute endophthalmitis following any invasive eye procedure.