When the intraocular cavities get inflamed for some reason, this condition is known as endophthalmitis. It can be either non-infectious one caused by retained native lens substance or panophthalmitis infection wherein the entire coats of the eye develop swelling.
Basically two types of endophthalmitis infection are observed. Exogenous infection is caused from direct inoculation of the organism from the outside environment like surgery or foreign bodies’ intervention etc. Endogenous infection is caused by objects from distant source.
Normally, there is a blood ocular barrier which protects the inner organs from invading organisms. But during endogenous endophthalmitis, the organisms penetrate the barrier by direct invasion and by causing changes in vascular endothelium. They in turn destroy the intraocular tissues thus causing infection to inner organs. Sometimes, surgical procedure may become the reason for exogenous endophthalmitis.
Endophthalmitis caused by bacteria cause pain, redness of eyes and swelling of eyelids. Fungal endophthalmitis may generally persist on the ocular cavities for weeks together causing blurred vision and pain.
Symptoms :
Symptoms of endophthalmitis includes loss of vision (partial), blurred vision, headache, pain in the eyes, photophobia, ocular discharge and intense ocular inflammation.
Causes :
Virus and bacteria are responsible for causing endophthalmitis infection. In case of individuals who have endogenous endophthalmitis, they will have symptoms that predispose them causing infection. They would suffer from diabetics, kidney problem, cardiac failure, Lupus, Aids, leukemia, gastrointestinal problem,
lymphoma and other disorders.
Sometimes, invasive procedure like hem-dialysis, catheterization, endoscopy, chemotherapy and dental procedures may also cause endophthalmitis. When a person undergo surgery on any other part or he has problems in his heart valves, or he suffers from immune disorders he can get endophthalmitis.