Bacterial infection of the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue

Preseptal cellulitis

• Infection of the eyelid and surrounding skin anterior to the orbital septum

Aetiology

• Usually caused by contiguous spread of infection from local facial or eyelid trauma e.g. insect bites

Clinical features

• Tenderness, warmth, swelling, redness of the eyelid

Management

• Antibiotics (can be outpatient if orbital cellulitis definitively excluded)

Orbital cellulitis

• Infection of the orbital tissues posterior to orbital septum

Aetiology

• Direct extension from sinus
• Extension from focal orbital infection
• Post-operative

Causative organisms

• Staphylococci