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Endophthalmitis: An Overview

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Endophthalmitis

Abstract

Endophthalmitis is a potentially devastating eye infection involving the vitreous and/or aqueous. In most patients, endophthalmitis results in some degree of irreversible vision loss in the affected eye; in some patients, all useful vision in that eye is lost. The term “endophthalmitis” is nearly always used to describe intraocular infection due to bacteria or fungi, while cases of intraocular inflammation due to viruses, parasites, and noninfectious etiologies are usually considered types of uveitis.

Endophthalmitis cases may be classified by etiology into categories such as postoperative, post-intravitreal injection, post-traumatic, bleb-related, keratitis-related, or endogenous. The clinical features and microbiology vary by category, and the relative frequency of these categories varies worldwide. This chapter provides an overview of endophthalmitis as seen around the world, and summarizes our current understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, microbiology, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and visual outcomes of endophthalmitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Marlene L. Durand MD

  2. Infectious Disease Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Infectious Disease Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Marlene L. Durand MD

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  1. Marlene L. Durand MD
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Correspondence to Marlene L. Durand MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Marlene L. Durand

  2. Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Joan W. Miller

  3. Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA

    Lucy H. Young

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Durand, M.L. (2016). Endophthalmitis: An Overview. In: Durand, M., Miller, J., Young, L. (eds) Endophthalmitis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29231-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29231-1_1

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