Endophthalmitis

As suggested by the name, endophthalmitis means infection inside the eye. This is a vision threatening condition which may occur due to trauma to the eye, intra-ocular foreign bodies and very rarely after surgery to the eye. On occasion it may also occur without surgery, by transfer via blood from another source of infection in the body (Endogenous).

Under normal conditions, the inside of the eye is sterile and clear so that light may enter the eye and the person sees. Infection inside the eye results in a strong bodily response as occurs anywhere else in the body. But invasion by infection fighting cells, growth of blood vessels, swelling and collection of debris inside the eye produces devastating effects on vision by not only causing opacification of transparent areas but also by adversely affecting the metabolism of numerous delicate structures inside the eye especially retina and optic nerve

In early and mild to moderate cases,  antibiotics , especially intravitreal, may be used. In more severe cases surgery may be required to remove the infection from inside the eye by doing pars plana vitrectomy and reestablish a clear medium through which sight may be restored.