A Case of Fungal Endophthalmitis Caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus that Might Have Spread from the Sclera into the Intraocular Space

Abstract

The aim of this report was to describe a case of fungal endophthalmitis possibly caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus(PL) penetrating the sclera from a conjunctival abscess. This case study involved an 83-year-old male patient with a past history of scleral buckling, subtenon steroid injection, and cataract surgery. The vitreous opacity and a conjunctival abscess appeared in the inferonasal quadrant of his right eye at 5 months after cataract surgery. PL was isolated from a cultured conjunctival discharge specimen obtained from the patient’s right eye. Although the treatment with antifungal agents relieved the conjunctival abscess, the vitreous opacity became worse. Thus, vitrectomy was subsequently performed. Intraoperative findings revealed severe vitreous opacity in the inferonasal quadrant, adjacent to the sclera at the site of the conjunctival abscess. Our findings indicate that fungal endophthalmitis appeared to have been caused by PL in the conjunctival abscess that may have penetrated the sclera and spread into the intraocular space.