Culture-Negative C acnes Endophthalmitis Following Implantation of a Phakic Implantable Collamer Lens

Calvin C Robbins; Lucia Sobrin; Kevin K Ma; Kathryn M Brouillette; Jeffrey K Moore

doi:10.1177/2474126420968402

Culture-Negative C acnes Endophthalmitis Following Implantation of a Phakic Implantable Collamer Lens

J Vitreoretin Dis. 2020 Nov 4;5(3):258-260. doi: 10.1177/2474126420968402. eCollection 2021 May-Jun.

Authors

Calvin C Robbins¹, Lucia Sobrin², Kevin K Ma², Kathryn M Brouillette³, Jeffrey K Moore⁴

Affiliations

¹ Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
² Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: This work describes a case of Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) endophthalmitis following a posterior-chamber, phakic, Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery.

Methods: A 34-year-old previously healthy woman presented with chronic unilateral iritis 8 months after bilateral ICL surgery. Original testing revealed no cause for the iritis with normal culture, serology, and autoimmune testing results.

Results: Follow-up revealed C acnes by polymerase chain reaction on vitrectomy samples. Complete resolution of symptoms was achieved following removal of the implant, lensectomy, and intravitreal antibiotics.

Conclusions: We believe this is the first reported case of postphakic ICL C acnes endophthalmitis. It highlights the utility of polymerase chain reaction in cases of chronic uveitis.

Keywords: endophthalmitis; inflammation and infectious disease; intraocular lens; uveitis; vitritis.

Publication types

Case Reports