What is Endophthalmitis?
Rarely, endophthalmitis can occur from bacteria or fungus which enters the eye. This can occur after ocular surgery or when someone is very ill with sepsis.
What are the Symptoms of Endophthalmitis?
Symptoms of endophthalmitis are decreased vision, eye pain, increasing eye redness, and floaters. Not all of these symptoms are present in every patient, and early detection is important in saving the eye.
How is Endophthalmitis Diagnosed?
The diagnosis can only be made with a good eye exam. Anyone having these symptoms and who has had eye surgery, particularly recent eye surgery, should contact their ophthalmologist immediately.
Usually once endophthalmitis is diagnosed, a referral is made to a retinal specialist. Retinal specialists have special training in this disease, and have experience in treating it.
How do Eye Doctors Treat Endophthalmitis?
The treatment of endophthalmitis involves obtaining a sample of the fluid from the inside of the eye to help determine the source of infection. Injections of antibiotics into the eye are performed concurrently. Topical and often oral antibiotics are used afterward. With the most severe of infections, surgery is required to help decrease the amount of bacteria and inflammation in the eye.
The organisms which cause endophthalmitis can cause serious damage to the retina and can even lead to blindness. Even once the infection clears following successful treatment, vision can be blurred permanently. The outcome largely depends on what organism was involved in the infection, and some people regain good vision. Recovery can take weeks to months.
