hypopyon

Introduction

pus in the eye

Etiology

• anterior uveitis (iritis)
• corneal ulcer
• Behcet's disease
• bacterial endophthalmitis

Pathology

• layering of leukocytes in the anterior chamber of the eye
• sterile pus; occurs by reaction of leukocytes to toxins rather than the invasion of pathogen

Clinical manifestations

• red eye
• hypopyon appears as white, semicircular collection of pus at the inferior pole of the anterior chamber behind the cornea
• exudate settles to the bottom of the eye due to gravity

Laboratory

• vitreal cultures
• blood cultures if systemic origin likely

Management

• management of endophthalmitis as indicated

More general terms

• eye infection (ocular inflammation including eyelid inflammation)