Have you ever heard of a serious infection inside the eye? You probably wouldn't have thought that such a serious infection could occur inside the eye. However, it is a real possibility, and in medicine we call it `Endophthalmitis`. This is a serious condition, so it is very important to get treatment as soon as possible. Today, we will talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.
What is `Endophthalmitis`? Let's understand it simply!
Simply put, endophthalmitis is an infection that affects the inside of your eye . This occurs when bacteria or fungi enter the eye and cause inflammation . Inflammation is a response that occurs when our body's immune system fights an infection.
Imagine, there are two types of fluids inside our eyes. One is the clear fluid called `aqueous humor`. This is located in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea. The other is the clear jelly-like substance called `vitreous humor`. This is located inside the eye, between the lens and the retina. These two fluids are mainly affected by this infection called `endophthalmitis`.
It is important to remember that this is a very serious medical condition . If not treated promptly, the infection can spread and cause vision loss . Sometimes, the infection can spread to the entire eyeball and even the orbit. In this case, it is called Panophthalmitis.
When you see an ophthalmologist, they may tell you whether you have bacterial endophthalmitis or fungal endophthalmitis. They will also classify it based on how the infection started.
There are two types of `Endophthalmitis`:
1. Exogenous Endophthalmitis: This is the most common type. This occurs when something from outside the eye enters the eye and causes infection. For example, if there is an accident to the eye, such as a sharp object getting stuck in the eye, or after eye surgery, this condition can occur.
2. Endogenous Endophthalmitis: This is a little less common than the other types. This is when a bacterial or fungal infection from somewhere else in your body spreads to your eye through your bloodstream . More specifically, a problem somewhere else in your body affects your eye.
What are the symptoms of Endophthalmitis?
If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should be concerned:
- Redness of the eyes: Not just that, sometimes the eyes can become very red.
- Severe eye pain: An unbearable pain coming from inside the eye.
- Decreased or lost vision: Suddenly, vision begins to blur or decrease.
- Sensitivity to bright light (photophobia): Eyes become so blue that they cannot look at the light.
- Eyelid swelling: The upper and lower eyelids may swell.
- Watery eyes (epiphora): A feeling of constant tears coming from the eyes.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice immediately, as the longer you wait, the greater the damage that can occur.
Why does this `Endophthalmitis` occur? What are the causes?
There can be many reasons for this. The reasons vary depending on the two types we discussed earlier, `exogenous` and `endogenous`.
Causes of `Exogenous Endophthalmitis`:
This is when germs from outside enter the eye. Here are some examples:
- Eye surgery: This is the main cause. This condition is especially common after cataract surgery . It can also occur after surgery for other eye conditions, such as glaucoma. If symptoms such as decreased vision and eye pain appear within a week of surgery, it may be acute endophthalmitis, which is a type that develops quickly. Sometimes symptoms take longer to appear, and this is called chronic endophthalmitis.
- Intraocular or Intravitreal injections: Some eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, require injections into the eye. Infections can also occur during these procedures.
- Industrial or traffic accidents: Imagine being hit in the eye by a piece of machinery at work, or having something get into your eye during a car accident. These types of penetrating eye trauma can also introduce germs into your eye.
- Sports accidents: Eye injuries can occur in some sports, especially those involving high-impact sports.
Causes of `Endogenous Endophthalmitis`:
This is when an infection from another part of the body enters the eye through the bloodstream. In Western countries, the most common bacteria that cause this are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Among fungal infections, the most common is Candida albicans.
Here are some situations where infections in the body can enter the bloodstream and reach the eyes:
- Dental work: When a tooth is extracted, or during certain dental procedures.
- Intravenous drugs: Because some diseases require intravenous medications.
- Conditions such as `Pneumonia` or `Sepsis` (blood poisoning): These are serious infections.
- Surgeries anywhere on the body: Not only eye surgeries, but other surgeries as well.
- Abscess or skin ulcer.
- Urinary tract infection.
Recent studies have found that some people with COVID-19 also develop this condition called 'endogenous endophthalmitis'. This is most likely due to another infection that develops while they are in the hospital. Who is at particular risk?
- For those who have been in the hospital for a long time.
- For those with other serious illnesses.
- Those who have received intravenous antibiotics (`IV antibiotics`) and other medications.
Is Endophthalmitis contagious?
No. Although it is caused by an infectious agent, this disease is not contagious from one person to another .
How do doctors diagnose this? (Diagnosis)
When you visit an ophthalmologist, he or she will first ask about your health history , ask about your current symptoms , and then perform a complete eye exam .
Next, they will often take a fluid sample from your eye , or something like pus from your eye, and send it to a lab to test it. That will help determine exactly what kind of germ is causing it. You may also need to have your blood and urine tested.
In some cases, the doctor may also order an eye ultrasound (ocular ultrasound) .
How is it treated?
When treating endophthalmitis, your eye doctor may prescribe medications . These may include antibiotics or antifungals, or anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids . These may be given as eye drops or injections.
The most important thing is to start treatment as soon as possible.
If your vision has been severely affected by the disease, your doctor may recommend a surgery called a vitrectomy . This surgery removes the infected material from inside the eye, allowing the surgeon to inject antibiotics or antifungal medications directly into the eye.
After surgery, the doctor may also tell you to wear an eye patch for a while.
Are there any complications in the treatment?
When injecting medicine into the eye (intravitreal injections), there can sometimes be minor damage to the cornea or retina. However, this does not happen very often.
How quickly will I recover after treatment?
Your symptoms, such as pain and redness, may begin to subside within a few days . However, vision problems may persist for some time. Endophthalmitis can take weeks, even months, to fully resolve . Therefore, it is important to be patient and follow treatment.
What can we do to reduce this risk?
These things can help reduce the risk of endophthalmitis:
- If your job involves contact with objects (e.g., working with machinery, welding), always wear protective eye gear . This is especially important if you play high-impact sports.
- If you must touch your eyes, wash your hands thoroughly and keep them clean . Avoid touching your eyes unnecessarily.
- If you have undergone any surgery, especially eye surgery, follow your doctor's instructions exactly . Follow the instructions for self-care exactly.
What happens to someone with `Endophthalmitis`? (Preliminary conclusion)
Like many diseases, the sooner you recognize and treat endophthalmitis, the better the outcome . However, in people with weakened immune systems or those with conditions like diabetes, the worse the outcome.
Some people may still have low vision after treatment. If this happens, talk to your medical team about it and get the support you need.
How do I take care of myself?
If you have endophthalmitis, you will need to make regular eye appointments . If you notice any changes in your vision or eye pain, tell your doctor right away .
If your vision has decreased after treatment, your doctor will also help you find support services if needed.
Important: If you have had any surgery, especially eye surgery or eye injections, and develop worrying symptoms such as eye pain, discharge, or redness afterward, see a doctor immediately. Acute endophthalmitis is a medical emergency. To increase your chances of recovery, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Take-Home Message
Endophthalmitis is a serious infection that occurs inside the eye. It can be caused by an eye injury, surgery, or the spread of an infection from elsewhere in the body.
- Symptoms: Red eyes, severe pain, decreased vision, sensitivity to light, swollen eyelids.
- Causes: Eye surgery, eye accidents, eye medication, other infections in the body.
- Treatment: Antibiotics or antifungal medications (drops or injections), possibly surgery (vitrectomy).
- Most importantly: See an eye doctor as soon as symptoms appear. Early treatment can save your vision.
- Safety: Protect your eyes, keep your hands clean, and follow medical advice.
I hope this information is useful to you. Eyes are very precious, so it is everyone's responsibility to take care of them.
` Endophthalmitis, Eye Infections, Eye Infections, Eye Pain, Vision Loss, Eye Surgery, Vitrectomy
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