In a group of 615 cases of perforating trauma, 25 cases (4%) of proven endophthalmitis were seen. The percentage of Bacillus infections was unusually high compared to other types of endophthalmitis (3.8% for the whole group, 31% for the group with intraocular foreign bodies). Bacillus cases have a very poor outcome and in fact the overall functional results in the post-traumatic endophthalmitis group were poorer than in other categories.

Vitrectomy has a definite place in the treatment of chronic uveitis, both on the functional level, with improvement or stabilisation of visual acuity and on the therapeutic level, with possible reduction or cessation of systemic treatment.

In cases of chronic uveitis where no etiology has been found, vitrectomy is able to provide a diagnosis in about one-third of eyes directly. During surgery a typical appearance of the fundus may reveal a supplementary diagnosis, resulting in an overall diagnosis in about half of the cases. Moreover, half of the patients will have improved vision after surgery.

Despite many advances in microsurgery, asepsis, antibiotics and intraocular lenses, postoperative endophthalmitis continues to be responsibe for the loss of many eyes. In a series of 153 cases of endophthalmitis with a positive culture, 115 occurred after ophthalmic surgery. Eyes appear to be more vulnerable to this complication after extracapsular lens extraction in particular. The analysis of the patients operated for cataract in our own department shows that the incidence of endophthalmitis is 3 times higher in the extracapsular group with lens implantation than in the group of intracapsular lens extraction without lens implantation. Quick diagnosis and prompt action are essential to successful treatment. The treatment consists of vitrectomy and has the following three purposes: (1) provision of a good specimen for direct bacteriological examination and culture; (2) removal of toxins and cells, and (3) creation of space for the injection of an antibiotic. The authors found highly divergent prognoses and bacteriological patterns for endophthalmitis following vitrectomy, bleb surgery and cataract. Similar bacteriological agents do not give rise to the same prognosis after different operations. The post-lens implantation group (88 cases) permitted a distinction to be made between intracapsular and extracapsular surgery. A statistically significantly higher percentage of infection by low-virulence organisms (e.g. Staphylococcus epidermidis) was seen after extracapsular surgery: 60% compared to 30%. The analysis shows that this difference in bacteriological spectrum is the sole explanation for the better functional results following extracapsular surgery.

Background-Primary oculocerebral large cell malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, formerly called ocular reticulum cell sarcoma, runs a uniformly fatal course. Once the central nervous system (CNS) is involved, survival without treatment is very limited. Although treatment does not substantially improve the long term survival, it provides short term improvement in these patients. Methods-The charts of all patients with ocular involvement of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma followed during the period 1984-93 were reviewed. The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was made by diVerent diagnostic approaches: CNS biopsy, anterior chamber tap, vitrectomy, haematology, and necropsy. Results-Eight patients had oculocerebral large cell and one had small cell nonHodgkin's lymphoma. Five patients with pure ocular localisation had initially received steroid treatment for intermediate uveitis. First diagnosis was made on CNS biopsy in three, anterior chamber tap in one, vitreous aspirate in three, haematology in one, and necropsy in one case. Conclusion-Ocularnon-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a diYcult diagnosis. Vitrectomy allows cytological diagnosis in most but not all cases. When no treatment is given, patients survive for only a few weeks once the CNS is involved. Although the disease is eventually fatal, treatment by means of radiotherapy, steroid administration, and vitrectomy can allow these patients to lead a normal professional and social life during the years between recurrences. (Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:31-36)