AIM: To investigate the treatment of transparent crystal in infectious endophthalmitis when vitrectomy, and to compare clinical efficacy of retention and removal transparent crystal.

METHODS: Thirty-four patients(34 eyes)were randomly divided into two groups. Retaining transparent crystal group(15 cases):vitrectomy but retained the transparent crystal; Extracting transparent crystal group(19 cases): vitrectomy and removed transparent crystal. The follow-up period was for 6-12 months and clinical efficacy(corrected visual acuity and the eye)of different treatment methods of transparent crystal was analyzed.

RESULTS: Retaining transparent crystal group, 14 eyes visual acuity were improved to 93%; Extracting transparent crystal group, 18 eyes visual acuity were improved to 95%. Retaining transparent crystal group, 1 eye endophthalmitis failed to control to 7%; Extracting transparent crystal group, 1 eye endophthalmitis failed to control to 5%. There's no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). During the follow-up period, both groups had no recurrence of endophthalmitis.

CONCLUSION: There's no significant difference of clinical efficacy in infectious endophthalmitis vitrectomy between retention and removal of transparent crystal.