Endophthalmitis overview
The most common cause of endophthalmitis is a bacterial or fungal infection following eye surgery. It can also be caused by an injury to the eye. Endophthalmitis is a rare condition, but without prompt treatment it can lead to reduced eyesight and in severe cases, the loss of the eye.
Endophthalmitis symptoms
Symptoms of endophthalmitis include:
- Increasing redness
- Swelling around the eye
- Light sensitivity
Which progress to:
- Severe pain
- Loss of vision
If you have recently had eye treatment, such as an injection or surgery, and are experiencing these symptoms, you should get your eyes checked at your local eye casualty department immediately.
Endophthalmitis causes
The causes of endophthalmitis are split into two types:
Exogenous endophthalmitis – when the infection originates from outside the eye, such as on your skin, and is usually a complication following eye surgery.
Endogenous endophthalmitis – when the infection originates from inside the body, spreading from another site such as a sinus infection, or abscess to the eye.
Treatment process for endophthalmitis
Treatment of endophthalmitis will depend on the cause.
For an infection, antibiotics will be administered directly into your eye. You may need to apply antibiotic drops, too.
If it’s caused by a foreign body in the eye, then it will need to be removed as soon as possible.
It’s likely that you will need to stay in hospital overnight for treatment and ongoing monitoring the eye. Following treatment, symptoms will usually start to improve after a few days.
Living with endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is a complicated condition, and the outcome can be serious. But with prompt treatment, the chances of this type of outcome is greatly reduced.
If you have any of the symptoms of endophthalmitis, you should go to your local eye accident and emergency hospital immediately.
Did you know?
Usually people with endophthalmitis have recently had eye surgery or a trauma to the eye. If this is the case, contact your ophthalmology provider or visit your local eye casualty department immediately.
