Proportion of eyes with visual-acuity improvement after vitrectomy for post-traumatic endophthalmitis: A meta-analysis

Post-traumatic endophthalmitis (PTE) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss after ocular trauma; despite widespread vitrectomy, outcomes vary and predictors remain unclear. This study aims to systematically evaluate the proportion of eyes showing the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement and final BCVA ≥ 20/200 after vitrectomy for PTE and to investigate potential determinants of outcome using meta-regression. A systematic review and meta-analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines and registered the protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42024606195). Eligible studies included ≥80% of participants undergoing vitrectomy for PTE. The prespecified primary outcome was the proportion with any BCVA improvement; final BCVA ≥20/200 at last follow-up was assessed as an additional outcome. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed, and subgroup and meta-regression analyses were used to explore outcome modifiers. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Nine studies (n = 448 eyes) were included. The pooled proportion of eyes with any BCVA improvement was 0.80 (95% CI 0.63–0.90; I² = 90%), significantly higher in adults (≥18 years; 0.91) than in children/adolescents (<18 years; 0.65; p < 0.01). Meta-regression suggested higher silicone-oil use and IOFB proportion correlated with BCVA improvement (p=0.027; p=0.017), while corneal-entry and baseline retinal detachment were not associated. The proportion achieving final BCVA ≥20/200 was 0.33 (95% CI 0.23–0.45; I²=67.9%) with no age difference (p=0.45). Certainty was low to very low. Vitrectomy for PTE often yielded visual improvement, particularly in adults, while ambulatory vision (≥20/200) was less common. Given the single-arm meta-analysis, substantial heterogeneity, and low-certainty ratings, these estimates should be interpreted cautiously. Multicenter randomized trials are needed to verify these findings and to evaluate the potential role of silicone-oil tamponade.