Periorbital and Orbital Cellulitis
Periorbital cellulitis, also known as preseptal cellulitis, or the infection of the eyelid and the surrounding eye area, and orbital cellulitis, which refers to the infection of the eyeball and the deeper tissues, are also apparent causes of swollen eyelids.
While these are two distinct conditions with different causes, they can be pretty difficult to differentiate as they both have bacterial origins and come with overlapping clinical features. Both are characterized by unilateral eyelid swelling, redness, erythema, eye pain, and fever.
Fortunately, there are some tell-tale differences as well. Periorbital cellulitis does not cause pain when the eyes move, whereas orbital cellulitis does. On top of this, periorbital cellulitis doesn’t cause vision problems, unlike orbital cellulitis. Orbital cellulitis can also stem from a sinus infection, eye trauma, tear duct infection, or periorbital cellulitis.
Whether it is periorbital or orbital cellulitis, diagnostic tests still merit visiting an ophthalmologist for a physical examination and an imaging scan. Treatment plans for both include intravenous antibiotics, though there might be other recommendations depending on the severity. Orbital cellulitis requires more care due to its potential dangers to the brain.
