Necrotising orbital cellulitis

Purpose To report 2 cases of severe necrotising orbital cellulitis which illustrate the need for aggressive surgical management to prevent blindness. Methods The case records of 2 patients with necrotising orbital cellulitis were reviewed. Results Both patients had orbital cellulitis associated with sinusitis. Each case was characterised by the rapid development of severe systemic toxicity, extensive soft tissue necrosis and abscess formation. One patient developed panophthalmitis and the eye had to be eviscerated. The other patient underwent repeated surgical drainage of multiple orbital abscesses. This led to resolution of the infection and preservation of vision. Conclusions Atypical rapidly progressive necrotising orbital cellulitis may occasionally be encountered. In such cases, aggressive surgical drainage of orbital abscesses is crucial to prevent blindness and death.