Causes of periorbital cellulitis

The infection affects the skin and soft tissues around the eye. Bacteria may enter through a scratch, insect bite, eczema, a stye, or another break in the skin. It can also extend from nearby sinus or facial infections. A skin infection elsewhere, such as athlete's foot, does not usually travel directly to the eye, but it can reflect a broader risk of bacterial skin problems. Redness, warmth, tenderness, and swelling can develop over a short time. People with type 2 diabetes or reduced immune defence may need especially prompt evaluation.

Periorbital cellulitis differs from deeper orbital infection. Eye movement pain, reduced vision, double vision, or a bulging eye are warning signs that the infection may extend beyond the skin.

Contact a clinician promptly for new redness, swelling, or painful skin around one eye. Do not squeeze a stye or apply leftover antibiotics. Keep the area clean, avoid contact lenses and eye makeup, and record any recent bite, injury, sinus symptoms, or medication allergies. Treatment commonly requires prescription antibiotics, with the route chosen after examination. Improvement should be monitored closely rather than judged only by comfort.

Go to urgent care now for fever, severe pain, rapidly increasing swelling, difficulty opening the eye, pain when moving the eye, vision change, confusion, or marked drowsiness. These features can signal deeper spread or a serious systemic infection such as sepsis and should not be watched at home.

Could this be periorbital or orbital cellulitis? Is there a sinus, dental, eyelid, or skin source? Which symptoms mean I should return urgently, and when should treatment start improving the swelling?