Abstract: Intracameral injection of antibiotics is to inject a small amount of antibiotics into the anterior chamber after cataract extraction to prevent endophthalmitis. The most commonly used drugs are cefuroxime, moxifloxacin and vancomycin. Cefuroxime and vancomycin exert antibacterial effects mainly by interfering with the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. The mechanism of action of moxifloxacin is to inhibit II and IV topoisomerases, interfering with bacterial DNA replication, repair, and transcription. The conventional recommended dose for intracameral injection of cefuroxime and vancomycin is 1.0 mg/0.1 mL, while there is currently no standard dose for moxifloxacin. To avoid drug resistance while ensuring safety, the recommended dose of moxifloxacin is 0.5 mg/0.1 mL. The effectiveness of intracameral injection of antibiotics in preventing endophthalmitis after cataract surgery has been proven by a large number of clinical studies, but complications need to be further studied. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2023, 47: 115-120)

Key words: cataract/surgery, postoperative complications, endophthalmitis, intracameral injection, antibiotics