Unit 9: Red Eye
14: Cellulitis
Preseptal and orbital (post septal) cellulitis are a medical emergency
Orbital Cellulitis
Inflammation of the soft tissue posterior to the orbital septum
Can be a life threatening infection if it spreads to the intracranial space
Source: EyeRounds.org. Contributor: William Charles Caccamise, Sr, MD, Retired Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Signs
- Systemically unwell with fever
- Lid oedema
- Chemosis
- Proptosis
- Reduced eye movements with or without diplopia
- Optic nerve dysfunction if severe:
- Relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD)
- Vision loss
Management
Refer to ophthalmology for emergency treatment with systemic antibiotics
