A 26-year-old male presented with painless decrease of vision in the right eye following trauma with an iron particle 4 days prior to presentation. On examination, the visual acuity in the right eye was 20/60, intraocular pressure (IOP) was 12mmHg and there was localized conjunctival congestion superonasally [Fig. 1]. Anterior segment was unremarkable, while on fundus evaluation there was clear media with normal disc, few internal limiting membrane striae in the macular area, areas of retinal vasculitis associated with isolated “white-centered” retinal hemorrhages, and perivascular white-colored retinal exudates localized inferiorly [Fig. 1]. The protruding vitreous knuckle present beneath the insertion of the medial rectus muscle at its superior margin was cut with vitrector and the 2-mm-long scleral tear was sutured with 7-0-vicryl. After taking an undiluted vitreous biopsy with a 23-gauge vitrectomy cutter, intravitreal antibiotics, vancomycin 1 mg and ceftazidime 2.25 mg in 0.1 ml each was given. Based on the microbiological culture, biochemical tests and mini API ID 32 Staph strip, S. epidermidis was isolated. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolate was done by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (CLSI, 2009).[⁴] The organism was found to be resistant to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, cefuroxime, oxacillin and cefoxitin (methicillin), and sensitive to amikacin, cefazoline, gentamicin, vancomicin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin and chloramphenicol. Postoperative treatment with tablet gatifloxacin (400 mg stat followed by 200 mg twice daily for 7 days), eye drop gatifloxacin 0.3% (12 times per day) and eye drop prednisolone acetate 1% (2 hourly initially, followed by tapering doses) resolved the infection. Final uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 at 6 weeks postoperatively with resolution of all retinal signs [Fig. 2].

Various authors[^{3, 5}–⁷] have documented the appearance of hemorrhages and vasculitis as an early feature of bacterial endophthalmitis. A case of fungal endophthalmitis[⁷] with vasculitis was reported earlier. Experimental inoculation of bacteria into the vitreous cavity revealed retinal periphlebitis to be the first clinical feature observed.[⁶] The pathogenesis of hemorrhages and periphlebitis is attributed to the breakdown of blood–retinal barrier, and thus perivascular exudation of plasma proteins and white blood cells.[⁸]

Retinal vasculitis as an isolated sign of endophthalmitis has been rarely reported in literature. This could be because of the lack of awareness, rarity of this sign, more fulminant cases or delayed diagnosis or delayed presentation leading to a poor view of fundus. A Medline search revealed only eight similar cases reported so far [Table 1]. Of these, only one case was post-traumatic. These findings may mimic the picture of retinal vein occlusion, Eales’ disease, Behcet's, sarcoidosis, pars planitis, infectious retinochoroiditis and non-specific uveitis, but a history of recent open globe trauma or surgery or systemic infection should indicate the possibility of an infectious etiology. In post-surgical eyes with increased anterior chamber reaction, dilated inferior retinal examination should be done to look for such white-centered retinal hemorrhages and vasculitis to rule out early endophthalmitis. A delay in the diagnosis and treatment of endophthalmitis is associated with poor visual recovery. All cases reviewed, including ours, had good visual outcomes with treatment.

Awareness about retinal vasculitis being an early presenting feature could lead to early diagnosis of endophthalmitis and good visual outcome.