Hanyang Medical Reviews  2016;36(3):192-202

doi:10.7599/hmr.2016.36.3.192

Ocular Inflammation Associated with Systemic Infection.

Byung Gil MOON 1 ; Joo Yong LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis; Endogenous Endophthalmitis; Ocular Syphilis; Ocular Toxocariasis; Ocular Toxoplasmosis

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Systemic infections that are caused by various types of pathogenic organisms can be spread to the eyes as well as to other solid organs. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses can invade the eyes via the bloodstream. Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of systemic infections, many patients still suffer from endogenous ocular infections; this is particularly due to an increase in the number of immunosuppressed patients such as those with human immunodeficiency virus infection, those who have had organ transplantations, and those being administered systemic chemotherapeutic and immunomodulating agents, which may increase the chance of ocular involvement. In this review, we clinically evaluated posterior segment manifestations in the eye caused by hematogenous penetration of systemic infections. We focused on the conditions that ophthalmologists encounter most often and that require cooperation with other medical specialists. Posterior segment manifestations and clinical characteristics of cytomegalovirus retinitis, endogenous endophthalmitis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis, and ocular syphilis are included in this brief review.