Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis is an internal inflammation of the eyeball, caused by an infection. Endophthalmitis is serious and if left untreated can be sight threatening. Treatment of endophthalmitis needs to be prompt.

• Pain

• Swelling around the eye

• Light sensitivity

• Progressive loss of vision

• Redness

The main causes of endophthalmitis are infections caused by eye surgery, an external eye infection, penetrating trauma or infectious organisms transferred to the eye by the bloodstream in very sick patients fighting an infection.  The most common eye surgeries that can cause endophthalmitis are cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery and corneal transplants.

Firstly the cause and type of infection (bacterial, viral or fungal) need to be diagnosed. Treatment can be either antibacterial, antiviral or antifungal, they would be administered by one or more of the following; eye drops, tablets, intravenously or by injection directly to the eye.

Steroids may be given in some cases to control the inflammation. In rare cases a surgery called vitrectomy may be done to remove infectious material from inside the eye.

The Ophthalmologist will closely monitor your treatment regime; lack of treatment could lead to the loss of vision and in the worst-case scenario, the eye itself.

Keep using the eye drops &/or tablets prescribed to you until you are told to stop and attend all your hospital eye appointments. The visual outcome is very dependent on the severity of the infection, adherence to the treatment by the patient and the damage the infection has caused to the eye.