Bacterial Conjunctivitis Accompanying Spontaneous Subconjunctival Abscess

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Subconjunctival abscesses are uncommon ocular infections, typically associated with prior ocular surgery or trauma.
• Cases in patients without such history are exceedingly rare.

Observation:

• A patient presented with bilateral conjunctivitis unresponsive to initial antibiotic treatment.
• Examination revealed a subconjunctival abscess in the right eye, despite no history of ocular surgery or trauma.
• Cultures from the abscess were negative.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates a rare instance of spontaneous subconjunctival abscess formation.
• Successful management involved abscess drainage, subconjunctival antibiotic injection, and systemic/topical antibiotics.
• Complete resolution was achieved within three weeks.

Implications:

• Spontaneous subconjunctival abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent or non-resolving bacterial conjunctivitis.
• This case expands the known etiology of subconjunctival abscesses.
• Highlights the importance of thorough evaluation in atypical presentations of common ocular infections.