Phthisis bulbi

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's medical weight loss NYC, sleep center NYC
Philadelphia medical weight loss and Philadelphia sleep clinics

Phthisis bulbi
Phthisis bulbi of the right eye
Synonyms	End-stage eye, Shrunken eye
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Ophthalmology
Symptoms	Vision loss, eye pain, eye redness, shrunken eye
Complications	Blindness, cosmetic disfigurement
Onset	Variable
Duration	Permanent
Types	N/A
Causes	Severe eye injury, inflammation, infection, retinal detachment, glaucoma
Risks	Eye trauma, untreated eye disease
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, imaging studies
Differential diagnosis	Microphthalmia, enophthalmos
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Prosthetic eye, enucleation, pain management
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Poor for vision recovery
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Degenerative condition of the eye

Phthisis bulbi is a degenerative condition of the eye characterized by shrinkage and disorganization of the intraocular contents. It is the end stage of various severe ocular diseases and injuries, leading to a non-functional eye.

Pathophysiology

Phthisis bulbi results from severe damage to the eye that leads to chronic inflammation, scarring, and atrophy of the ocular tissues. The condition can follow trauma, infection, or advanced glaucoma, among other causes. The eye becomes shrunken and disorganized, often with calcification and ossification of the intraocular structures.

Causes

Phthisis bulbi can be caused by:

• Severe ocular trauma
• Chronic uveitis
• Advanced glaucoma
• Complications from eye surgery
• Infections such as endophthalmitis
• Retinal detachment with prolonged duration

Clinical Features

The clinical presentation of phthisis bulbi includes:

• A shrunken, disorganized eye
• Loss of vision
• Pain, which may be present in some cases
• Calcification or ossification within the eye

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of phthisis bulbi is primarily clinical, based on the history of ocular disease or trauma and the characteristic appearance of the eye. Imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scan may be used to assess the extent of calcification or ossification.

Management

Management of phthisis bulbi focuses on alleviating symptoms and improving cosmetic appearance. Options include:

• Enucleation or evisceration if the eye is painful
• Fitting of a prosthetic eye for cosmetic purposes

Prognosis

Phthisis bulbi is an irreversible condition, and the affected eye is non-functional. The prognosis depends on the underlying cause and the presence of any complications.

Prevention

Preventive measures focus on early treatment of ocular diseases and injuries to prevent progression to phthisis bulbi. This includes prompt management of infections, control of intraocular pressure in glaucoma, and timely surgical intervention when necessary.

See also

• Glaucoma
• Uveitis
• Endophthalmitis
• Ocular trauma