Endophthalmitis is severe inflammation inside of the eyeball, that is usually caused by infection. The most common cause is infection from bacteria introduced during cataract surgery. Even so, it is a rare complication. Other types of eye surgery and penetrating trauma to the eye can also introduce the infection. The infection can come from inside of your own body, through your bloodstream, if you have certain types of infections.
Symptoms of Endophthalmitis
After surgery or trauma to the eye, the inflammation will typically develop within a few days. Symptoms include:
- Dramatic, progressive loss of vision
- Eye pain that worsens
- Light sensitivity
- Swelling around the eye
- Redness of the eye
In some milder cases, endophthalmitis does not occur until much later. Symptoms can include:
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Mild eye pain
When the infection comes from inside your own body, symptoms can include:
- Gradual, mild decrease in vision
- Floaters
Causes of Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is usually caused by infection with one of the following:
- Bacteria
- Fungus
- Virus
- Parasite
Most cases are complications of cataract surgery, cornea transplant, or glaucoma filtering. If you have had glaucoma filtering, you are at risk for developing endophthalmitis for the rest of your life. Although rare, occurring in about one in a thousand of these surgeries, it is one of the most serious complications. Eye muscle surgery can also result in the inflammatory condition, but much more rarely.
Treatment
Immediate treatment may prevent further vision loss and restore your vision. Depending on the cause and how much the condition has deteriorated your vision, treatment can include:
- Intravitreal, topical, and/or intravenous antibiotics – intravitreal antibiotics are injected inside of the eye
- Steroids
- Intravitreal, oral, and/or intravenous antifungal medication
- Vitrectomy – removal of some of the infected vitreous fluid, which is then replaced with sterile saline
