Endophthalmitis: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek emergency eye care now for sudden or worsening vision loss, significant eye pain, or increasing redness—especially after eye surgery, an eye injection, or a penetrating injury.

   Contact the emergency number provided by your eye clinic or go to an emergency department with ophthalmology support.

   Call emergency services if eye symptoms occur with severe illness, confusion, breathing difficulty, fainting, extreme shivering, or rapidly worsening weakness, as these may be signs of sepsis.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Also seek urgent assessment for new floaters, marked light sensitivity, eyelid swelling, discharge, or a cloudy appearance inside the eye after a procedure.

   Do not wait for a routine appointment or use leftover eye drops.

   Contact the treating service sooner if pain, redness, discharge, or vision worsens between appointments.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Endophthalmitis. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.