Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis

  • Overview
  • Risk Factors
  • Appointments
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Locations
  • Physicians

    • What is endophthalmitis?

    Endophthalmitis is the term used to describe severe inflammation of the tissues inside the eye. The inflammation is typically due to infection by bacteria (eg. Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, Gram-negative bacteria) or fungi (eg. Candida, Aspergillus). It is rarely caused by viruses (herpes simplex or herpes zoster) or protozoa (eg. Toxocara, Toxoplasma). Sterile (non-infectious) endophthalmitis can develop as a reaction to lens fragments retained in the eye after cataract surgery or to drugs injected into the eye. 

    Endophthalmitis is a rare complication of eye surgery, eye trauma, and injections into the eye.  It also can occur in the setting of a blood-borne infection.

    What are the risk factors for endophthalmitis?

    Risk factors include: 

    • Decreased vision
    • Pain
    • Increasing redness or swelling, especially after eye surgery

    The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have endophthalmitis. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist for a complete exam.

    Appointment Information

    To schedule an appointment, please call 734-763-5874.

    What are the symptoms of endophthalmitis?

    Symptoms include: 

    • Decreased vision
    • Pain
    • Increasing redness or swelling, especially after eye surgery

    The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have endophthalmitis. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist for a complete exam.

    How is endophthalmitis diagnosed?

    A complete eye examination is necessary to diagnose endophthalmitis. Additional testing, such as ultrasound, culture of intraocular fluids, and laboratory studies, may also be necessary.

    How is endophthalmitis treated?

    Treatment may include intraocular and/or oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents, and vitrectomy surgery. Even with the most aggressive treatment, it may be difficult to preserve useful vision in cases of severe infection.

    Locations
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
      Entrance 1, Level 2
      Brighton, MI 48116-9416       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Kellogg Eye Center-Grand Blanc 3181 E Grand Blanc Rd
      Grand Blanc, MI 48439-2709       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Northville Health Center 39901 Traditions Dr
      Floor 2
      Northville, MI 48168-9493       Get Directions
    • Retina & Uveitis Clinic | Kellogg Eye Center 1000 Wall St
      Elevator B Floor 2
      Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1912       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor

    Cagri Giray Besirli, MD, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Grant Michael Comer, MD

    Grant Michael Comer, MD, MS

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Susan Gail Elner, MD

    Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Emily A. Eton, MD

    Emily Ann Eton, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Abigail Teich Fahim, MD

    Abigail Teich Fahim, MD, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Thomas Wright Gardner, MD

    Thomas Wright Gardner, MD, MS

    Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Michael Huvard, MD profile image

    Michael Jacob Huvard, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Mark W. Johnson

    Mark W Johnson, MD

    Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Shilpa Kodati, MBBS

    Shilpa Kodati, MBBS

    Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Jason Matthew Lewis Miller, MD

    Jason Matthew Lewis Miller, MD PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Show All Doctors

    News & Stories
    woman with dog smiling
    Health Lab

    Patient with retinitis pigmentosa receives new hope at Kellogg’s low vision clinic

    Retinitis pigmentosa can lead to vision loss, but DNA testing, inherited retinal disease research and AI glasses offer new hope.
         presentation on stage with slideshow up
    Health Lab

    Medical students develop novel technological solutions for unmet patient needs

    University of Michigan medical students showcased AI-driven healthcare innovation projects focused on melanoma support, transplant recovery and primary care access.
         Close up of a hazel green eye
    Health Lab

    A new clue for aging eyes

    Struggling to read more than six lines on an eye chart with fading letters may serve as a visual “yellow light” for older adults—raising red flags that routine exams sometimes fail to detect.
         Susan Lane, wearing glasses and a dress with blue, red, black, and purple brushstroke designs, stands next to Alan Sugar, who is wearing glasses and a grey blazer with a blue tie. They are standing in a shaded courtyard area with shrubs and a brick wall behind them.
    Philanthropy News

    Susan J. Lane: Gratitude and Giving

    Susan Lane has made a transformational gift to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Michigan Medicine to support corneal research and patient education.
         person putting contacts on up close to mirror
    Health Lab

    Improving eye comfort in patients who wear contact lenses

    Common difficulties include persistent discomfort, dry eyes, small bumps on the eye surface called corneal infiltrates and inflammation of the upper eyelid. Karen DeLoss, clinical associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at U-M Health discusses how contact lenses work, types of lenses available and treatment options for patients who struggle with wearing them.
         eye drawing blue yellow highlight
    Health Lab

    Adult stem cells show therapeutic promise in treating vision loss from macular degeneration

    Researchers used retinal pigment epithelial stem cells derived from adult postmortem eye tissue in a phase 1/2a clinical trial. This is the first treatment to show promise for age-related macular degeneration or AMD.