Endogenous panophthalmitis and diabetes

Panophthalmitis is a visually devastating ocular infection. Endogenous panophthalmitis is a rare entity and occurs due to the spread of organisms hematogenously from a focus of infection elsewhere in the body. We report two such cases, both seen in diabetics. Both our patients presented with right eye panophthalmitis. They had uncontrolled blood sugars. One patient had septicemia following a urinary tract infection and the other following pneumonia. The outcome of panophthalmitis is usually very poor in spite of treatment and results in evisceration. Physicians and ophthalmologists should be aware of the possibility of endogenous endophthalmitis because early diagnosis and prompt treatment can save the eye before it progresses to panophthalmitis. Uncontrolled diabetes appears to be an important risk factor.