Preseptal Cellulitis

Preseptal cellulitis, also called periorbital cellulitis, is an infection involving the soft tissues surrounding the eye.  It presents with unilateral eye pain, erythema, and swelling.  Although the infection is typically localized, prompt recognition and management are necessary to prevent potential complications, such as extension of infection into the posterior orbital structures (ie, orbital cellulitis).

The orbital septum is a fascial membrane that forms a boundary between the anterior and posterior orbit ( Figure 1).  It extends vertically from the superior and inferior orbital rims to the upper and lower eyelids, respectively.  Preseptal cellulitis involves the eyelids and periorbital soft tissues, which are located anterior to the septum.  In contrast, orbital cellulitis, a more serious infection, involves the extraocular muscles and orbital fat posterior to the septum.