The clinical manifestation of bacterial endophthalmitis is based on the infecting pathogen, duration of the disease and the route of entry. Mostly, patients complain about a loss in the vision. It is often associated with red eye. Also some patients experience a deep and penetrating ocular pain. Based on the routes of invasion, it is classified into following groups-
- Ocular pain is witnessed in 75% of patients
- Infection generally occurs 2 to 10 days post surgery
- Patients may experience a greater loss in vision than in the postoperative course
- Anti inflammatory drugs and postoperative antibiotic may subdue the severity of the disease. This may delay the medical attention
- Presence of chronic indolent course
- Patients may present with photophobia, inflammatory red eye and reduced vision
- Fungal species must not be considered
- Some patients may have idiopathic uveitis which should be treated with topical steroids for temporary relief
- Symptoms are rarely bilateral
- No recent history of ocular surgery is present
- Confusion with chronic postoperative or delayed onset is possible if endogenous route is not counted out
Exogenous source:
Acute postoperative (less than 6 weeks post operation)
Chronic pseudophakic or Delayed onset postoperative (More than 6 weeks postoperative):
Post traumatic: Infection spreads rapidly if any history of trauma is present
Associated with filtering bleb: The clinical features are identical to the acute postoperative infection. It involves purulent bleb formation.
Endogenous source:
Causes Of Bacterial Endophthalmitis
Causes of bacterial endophthalmitis are to classification of endogenous and exogenous. They are mentioned below-
- Indwelling catheters
- Septicemia
- Patients who are debillated
- Intravenous drug use
- Trauma
- Ocular surgical method — Risk increases when complications arise
- Associated with filtering bleb — Use of contaminated contact lens or antimetabolites
- Ocular surface infection (corneal ulcer)
Endogenous:
Exogenous:
