The paper reviews experience with vitrectomy in five cases of endophthalmitis in which vision was severely reduced because of vitreous opacification. In two of the cases vitrectomy was performed after the infection had been aborted, and in three of the cases vitrectomy was performed during the stage of acute endophthalmitis when there was evidence that the condition was not responding to conservative medical treatment. In all cases, vitrectomy resulted in a dramatic improvement in vision. It is suggested that vitrectomy represents a major advance in the management of bacterial and fungal endophthalmitis.