Predictors of surgical intervention and visual outcome in bacterial orbital cellulitis

This study aims to identify predictive factors associated with surgical intervention and the visual outcome of orbital cellulitis and to evaluate the treatment outcomes. A retrospective study involving 66 patients (68 eyes; 64 unilateral and 2 bilateral) diagnosed with bacterial orbital cellulitis was conducted between November 2005 and May 2019. The mean (± standard deviation) age was 42.1 (± 25.8) years (range: 15 days–86 years). Sinusitis was the most frequent predisposing factor, occurring in 25 patients (37.9%), followed by skin infection in 10 patients (15.2%), and acute dacryocystitis in 9 patients (13.6%). Subperiosteal abscesses were found in 24 eyes and orbital abscesses in 19 eyes. Surgical drainage was performed in 31 eyes. Regarding the abscess volume for surgical drainage, a cut-off of 1514 mm(3) showed 71% sensitivity and 80% specificity. There was significant improvement in visual acuity (VA) and decrease in proptosis after treatment (for both, P ≤ .001). Only pre-treatment VA ≤20/200 was a significant predictor for post-treatment VA of 20/50 or worse (adjusted odds ratio: 12.0, P = .003). The presence of a relative afferent pupillary defect was the main predictor of post-treatment VA of 20/200 or worse (adjusted odds ratio: 19.0, P = .003). The most common predisposing factor for orbital cellulitis in this study was sinusitis. VA and proptosis significantly improved after treatment. We found that the abscess volume was strongly predictive of surgical intervention. Pre-treatment poor VA and the presence of relative afferent pupillary defect can predict the worst visual outcome. Hence, early detection of optic nerve dysfunction and prompt treatment could improve the visual prognosis.