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Orbital causes of red eye

  • 2 important orbital causes of a red eye to remember: 

    1. orbital inflammatory disease​

    2. orbital cellulitis

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The main one to be aware of is orbital cellulitis, which is covered here.

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Orbital cellulitis

  • life threatening condition​

  • presenting features:

    • red, oedematous conjunctiva​

    • reduced eye movements

    • proptosis

    • reduced visual acuity

    • systemically unwell - may be septic, febrile, haemodynamically unstable

    • may have sinusitis 

      • can originate as infection within the sinuses and spread to orbit​

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Management​

  • admission​

  • IV antibiotics

  • CT scan of head/ orbits/ sinuses

  • ENT + ophthalmology input

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