The acute onset of ocular symptoms in an intravenous drug user may indicate the onset of acute endophthalmitis. A delay in diagnosis and therapy can result in blindness.
Infectious agents that can cause acute endophthalmitis in an intravenous drug user:
(1) fungus, especially Candida species
(2) bacteria
(3) virus
Clinical presentation:
(1) floaters
(2) loss of visual acuity
(3) ocular pain
Differential diagnosis:
(1) bacterial endocarditis
(2) HIV-related opportunistic infections
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