 Eyes and mold
Endophthalmitis
(Eye infections)
Endophthalmitis refers to intraocular inflammation involving the vitreous and anterior chamber of the eye. In most cases, endophthalmitis results from an infectious organism. Fungal (mold) endophthalmitis can be divided into the less common endogenous infections and the more common exogenous infections. These infections are generally caused by persons touching mold contaminated surfaces and then rubbing their eyes and skin. If left untreated this condition can lead to blindness. Treatments may take up to two to three months for a person to recover and there is no guarantee that 100% vision will be restored.
Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis is frequently an ocular (eye) manifestation of a systemic disease. Endogenous infections usually occur in people with 1 or more of the following risk factors: immunosuppression, intravenous drug abuse, bacterial sepsis, prolonged hyperalimentation, systemic antibiotics, corticosteroid therapy, recent abdominal surgery, malignancy, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, trauma, and hemodialysis. Candida albicans is by far the most common pathogen isolated in endogenous fungal endophthalmitis. Other pathogens include Aspergillus, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, Blastomyces, and Sporothrix species.
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