Acute ophthalmic artery obstruction secondary to subperiosteal abscess with retrobulbar phlegmonous infection

Abstract

A 57-year-old diabetic woman experienced a sudden severe visual loss and total ophthalmoplegia in her left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging studies showed orbital cellulitis, located mainly in the posterior orbit, secondary to ethmoid and maxillary sinusitis. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiograms were suggestive of left ophthalmic artery occlusion. Subsequent ethmoidectomy and incisional biopsies failed to show any specific microorganism, particularly mucormycosis. This case represents an unusual complication of orbital subperiosteal abscess with retrobulbar phlegmonous infection which left the patient with no light perception as a result of ophthalmic artery obstruction. Posterior orbital infections should be more closely monitored and surgery should be considered in early stages of the disease.