Endophthalmitis is a rare but very serious infection inside the eye. It is usually caused by bacteria or, less commonly, fungi that enter the eyeball.
This can happen after surgery (e.g., cataract surgery), after an eye injection, or due to an eye injury. Very rarely, the pathogens can also reach the eye through the bloodstream. However, this occurs only in patients who are also severely ill overall (sepsis) and are therefore usually in the hospital intensive care unit.
Typical signs include severe eye pain, rapidly worsening vision, pronounced redness and swelling of the eye, and sometimes increased sensitivity to light or a general feeling of illness. Endophthalmitis is always an ophthalmic emergency and must be treated immediately.
Treatment usually consists of highly effective antibiotics or antifungal medications administered directly into the eye. Sometimes an additional procedure is necessary to remove infectious material or foreign bodies from the eye. The earlier treatment begins, the better the chances of preserving vision.
The most common cause of endophthalmitis is following eye surgery, such as cataract surgery. Typically, symptoms do not occur immediately after the operation, but within the first few days. The following symptoms must be taken seriously and investigated further: