Pathophysiology of Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital cellulitis or cellulitis of the eye is caused as a result from microbial infection on the post-septal aspect of eyelids. The risk factors include cuts or cracks on skin or adjacent sinuses .The bacteria responsible for the infection are Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumonia. There is a significant amount of morbidity and fatality as prolonged infection can spread to the valveless venuos system resulting to meningitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, septicemia and intracranial infection.Intraorbital abscesses lead to the development of inflammatory proptosis. The soft tissue edema and toxic myopathy lead to the development of ophthamoplegia. With the increased pressure from mucopurulent abscess, there will be a compression of the optical nerve ultimately leading to loss of vision.