[Case of recurrent fungal endophthalmitis with suspected Munchausen syndrome].

PURPOSE: To report recurrent fungal endophthalmitis which developed after endogenous fungal endophthalmitis. The patient was suspected to be suffering from Munchausen syndrome.

CASE: A 44-year-old woman contracted endogenous fungal endophthalmitis in her right eye in October 2000. After the endophthalmitis was healed by vitrectomy, corneal ulcer and endophthalmitis repeatedly occurred in the eye from an unknown cause. The patient finally lost the sight of her right eye. The corneal ulcer and endophthalmitis resulted from self-injury for which we found material evidence in the course of the treatment. Munchausen's syndrome was suspected but the patient persistently refused to see a psychiatrist.

CONCLUSION

We must be prepared to provide mental and psychiatric care in addition to ophthalmological treatment for such a case.