AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of intracameral cefuroxime injection on prevention of endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification.

METHODS: This was a retrospective clinical study. The clinical records were reviewed for 3112 patients(4210 eyes)with cataract phacoemulsification in our hospital from January 2015 to June 2018; 1810 patients(2250 eyes)without intracameral cefuroxime injection were treated as control group from January 2015 to April 2017; 1302 cases(1960 eyes)with intracameral cefuroxime injection were treated as experimental group from May 2017 to July 2018. Patients in both groups were treated with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. The follow-up period was 1-8mo and the visual acuity and the infectious endophthalmitis were observed and compared.

RESULTS:There were 1 344 eyes with best corrected visual acuity >1.0, 696 eyes with 0.5-0.9, 151 eyes with 0.1-0.4, 59 eyes with <0.1 in control group within 6mo after operation; those in experimental group were 1 136 eyes, 624 eyes, 146 eyes, 54 eyes. No postoperative endophthalmitis case occurred in experimental group. Three postoperative endophthalmitis cases(3 eyes)occurred in control group, 0.13%(3/2250). There was no significant difference between the two groups(P=0.15). All the cases with endophthalmitis were cured. No sever complication was reported with intracameral cefuroxime, corneal endothelium decompensation, retinal toxicity.

CONCLUSION: Intracameral cefuroxime injection is safe and effective in prevention of endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification.