Nasolacrimal duct screening to minimize post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis

Abstract

Background: To examine unrecognized nasolacrimal duct obstruction as a risk factor for developing endophthalmitis post-cataract surgery in order to assess the value of preoperative lacrimal system screening. Design: Prospective case-control study. Participants: A random sample of patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery (control group) and a consecutive series of patients admitted to our hospital with post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis. Methods: We compared the rate of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in the control group versus the endophthalmitis series. Both groups underwent nasolacrimal duct syringing with normal saline on the ipsilateral side to the surgery. A standard m..