Endophthalmitis Caused by an Intraocular Cilium

Mijin Kim; Jang Won Heo; Hum Chung

doi:10.3341/jkos.2010.51.6.904

Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.51(6) > 1008849

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Kim, Heo, and Chung: Endophthalmitis Caused by an Intraocular Cilium

Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2010;51(6):904-907.

Published online: 3 June 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2010.51.6.904

Endophthalmitis Caused by an Intraocular Cilium

Mijin Kim, MD¹, Jang Won Heo, MD^1,², Hum Chung, MD^1,²

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

²Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Clinical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea

Address reprint requests to Jang Won Heo, MD Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine #28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea Tel: 82-2-2072-2438, Fax: 82-2-741-3187, E-mail: hjw68@snu.ac.kr

Received 3 December 2009 Accepted 16 March 2010

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

To report a case of intraocular cilium revealed by diagnostic vitrectomy in a case of stubborn uveitis that was un-responsive to steroid therapy.

Case summary

A 39-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to decreased vision in his right eye that started two months prior to presentation. He had previously been treated for a diagnosis of iridocyclitis. The patient’s history revealed a blunt trauma to the right eye while wearing glasses after which he developed a microhyphema and was treated for traumatic iritis at another clinic 3 months ago. He was treated with topical and oral steroids after being diagnosed with iridocyclitis and had recently been prescribed additional oral cyclosporine because his condition had not improved. Ocular examination revealed inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber and vitreous cavity with hand motion vision. Ultrasonography revealed a hazy vitreous cavity but the retina was flat. Diagnostic vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic injection was performed and an intraocular foreign body presumed as a cilium was detected without an entrance wound on the exterior or interior surface of the eye. After removal of the foreign body, the patient’s vision was completely recovered.

Conclusions

In cases of chronic uveitis that do not respond to immunosuppressive treatment without a clearly definable cause, diagnostic vitrectomy should be considered, keeping in mind the possibility of intraocular foreign body.

Keywords: Diagnostic vitrectomy, Endophthalmitis, Intraocular cilium

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Figure 1.

Fundus photograph and ultrasonograph showing vitreous opacity at the first visit.

Figure 2.

Operative frame showing the intravitreal cilium. The follicular end of the cilium is observed clearly within the vitreous with the cilium. Entrance wound was not identified on the interior or external surface of the eye.

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