Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is infection inside the eye.
Endophthalmitis is caused by organisms that have traveled through the bloodstream into the eye or have entered the eye through a surgical incision or an injury. Infection in the blood comes from intravenous drug administration, an abscess (a collection of pus), or surgery anywhere in the body. Infection is usually due to bacteria, but fungi or protozoa may also be responsible. Viruses can also cause extensive eye infections, but these are generally not called endophthalmitis.
Symptoms may be severe and include pain, redness in the white of the eye, extreme sensitivity to bright light, and partial or complete loss of vision. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms, an examination of the eye, cultures, and sometimes antibody or DNA testing. Cultures may be taken from the aqueous humor (fluid inside the front of the eye; also called the aqueous) and the vitreous humor (the jellylike substance inside the back part of the eye) to determine which organisms are responsible and which drugs are most active against them.
Endophthalmitis is a medical emergency. Rapid treatment is generally needed if vision is to be preserved. Treatment usually begins immediately; a delay of even a few hours can result in vision loss in extreme cases. Antibiotics are given; the choice of antibiotic may be adjusted depending on which organism is found to be causing the endophthalmitis. Corticosteroids may also be given. Surgery may be needed to remove infected tissue from inside the eye, which may improve the chances of stopping the infection.
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