Definition:
Ophthalmitis is a general term encompassing all types of eye inflammation. However, the term is more commonly used in the context of sympathetic ophthalmitis or neonatal ophthalmitis.
Diagnosis:
Ophthalmitis diagnosis is mostly based on clinical manifestations.
Treatment:
Specific treatment for ophthalmitis depends on the type of eye inflammation involved. In general, ophthalmitis may require surgical intervention in the form of evisceration and enucleation (removal) of the affected eye. In addition, immunosuppressive therapy is also used to control the eye inflammation and improve prognosis.
Symptoms and Signs:
Ophthalmitis - or eye inflammation disorders in general - presents with: mild to severe eye pain; eye swelling; disturbances in vision; distinctive inflammation in the eye; reddish appearance of the eye; as well as eye discharges.
Causes:
The specific cause of ophthalmitis is not completely known. However, most eye inflammation diseases are attributed to a number of factors and underlying conditions, including: enterococcus; ophthalmia neonatorum; intraocular foreign body; staphylococcus aureus; streptococcus viridans; and bacillus cereus, among others. In some cases, a rare type of inflammation called sympathetic ophthalmia may occur as a result of injury in one eye causing symptoms in the other healthy eye, with resulting vision impairment.
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