Intracameral moxifloxacin may help prevent endophthalmitis after cataract surgery

Injecting intracameral moxifloxacin may help prevent the onset of endophthalmitis without increasing safety risk 3 months after cataract surgery, a prospective, multicenter study found.

Stephen S. Lane, MD, and colleagues compared posterior and anterior segment safety outcomes after administering either 250 µg/0.05 mL of intracameral Vigamox (moxifloxacin 0.5%, Alcon) or an equal amount of balanced salt solution to 57 eyes of 47 patients who underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation. Specifically, 26 eyes received intracameral moxifloxacin and 31 eyes received balanced salt solution.

Visual and anatomical safety data were assessed at baseline and at 3 months postop.

According to optical coherence tomography results, there were no statistically significant differences between the treatment groups at baseline or at 3-month follow-up, the authors noted.

In addition, the investigators found no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding visual acuity, IOP, endothelial cell counts, corneal thickness, corneal clarity or edema, aqueous cells or aqueous flare at baseline or at 1 day, 2 to 4 weeks, or 3 months.

There were no adverse events.

"Ongoing studies will be necessary to determine the optimal dose that achieves the best combined pharmaceutical and pharmacodynamic approach to antibiotic prophylaxis and whether a combination course with subsequent topical therapy is beneficial," the study authors said in the September issue of Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.