What is a significant cause of orbital cellulitis?

Orbital cellulitis is an infection that involves the tissues surrounding the eye and can pose serious complications if not treated promptly. One of the most significant causes of orbital cellulitis is acute sinusitis. This condition occurs when bacteria from the sinuses invade the tissues surrounding the orbit, leading to inflammation and infection. The proximity of the sinuses to the eye means that an infection in the sinuses can easily spread to the orbital space, resulting in orbital cellulitis.

Acute sinusitis is particularly notable because the pathogens involved are often the same ones that cause this condition, and the clinical manifestation may include symptoms such as swelling, redness, and pain around the eyes, alongside sinus-related symptoms like nasal congestion and purulent discharge.

Other conditions such as conjunctivitis, chronic blepharitis, or retinal detachment do not typically lead to orbital cellulitis. Conjunctivitis primarily affects the conjunctival tissue and does not involve the orbit. Chronic blepharitis affects the eyelids and can cause inflammation, but it does not generally lead to the more extensive involvement of the surrounding orbital tissue seen in orbital cellulitis. Retinal detachment, on the other hand, is a serious eye condition that involves the retina separating from its normal position but does