Bacterial Endocarditis
Bacterial infection of heart valve Systemic manifestations: fever, fatigue, positive blood cultures for bacteria Ophthalmic manifestations: retinal hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, Roth spots, retinal infarcts
Systemic hypertension HIV/AIDS Connective tissue diseases Systemic infection Blood dyscrasia Behçet disease Hypercoagulable states
If considering diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis, refer to ophthalmologist for detection of occlusive retinopathy, although may have causes other than endocarditis
Retinal abnormalities disappear if endocarditis effectively treated Vision impaired only if large retinal areas infarcted or infected
