METHODS: A 42-year-old man underwent scleral buckling surgery for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in his right eye using a WAVS with chandelier endoillumination. Three days after the surgery, the patient noticed a marked decrease in his vision with ocular pain. Slit-lamp examination showed dense infiltration in the anterior chamber and vitreous body. Pars plana vitrectomy with antibiotic irrigation was done immediately, and Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected in the vitreous fluid. After vancomycin 6/day for 4 weeks, the inflammation gradually subsided, and the visual acuity recovered to 20/20 in 3 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Acute bacterial endophthalmitis can develop after scleral buckling surgery performed with WAVS and chandelier endoillumination.