Endophthalmitis

Severe infection or inflammation inside the eye

Overview

Endophthalmitis is inflammation of the internal fluids and tissues of the eye, the vitreous and aqueous, usually due to infection. Most cases are exogenous, following eye surgery, intravitreal injections, or penetrating injury, while endogenous endophthalmitis arises when bloodstream infection seeds the eye. Typical features are worsening pain, redness, swelling, and loss of vision, often with a layer of white cells in the front chamber called a hypopyon. Although rare after modern surgery, it is a sight threatening emergency managed with injections of antibiotics into the eye and sometimes vitrectomy.