PERIOCULAR INFECTION AFTER STRABISMUS SURGERY

Fewer than 15 cases of cellulitis and subconjunctival abscess after ex traocular muscle surgery have been reported in detail. In an effort to provide greater information about this serious complication, the memb ers of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabi smus (AAPO&S) were surveyed and contributed cases were analyzed. Among the 25 cases of cellulitis, there was a predominance of preschool age patients and Staphylococcus aureus cultures. Many cases presented aft er a normal initial postoperative visit. The most common symptoms were marked swelling and pain. Possible predisposing factors included unsu spected sinusitis, eye rubbing, and poor hygiene. Two patients had doc umented bacteremia, but no patient developed endophthalmitis. All case s resolved on antibiotics, but only five patients were successfully tr eated with oral antibiotics alone. Periocular infections after extraoc ular muscle surgery can present after a normal initial postoperative v isit. Symptoms of marked swelling and pain are cause for closer inspec tion. S. aureus is the most common organism and oral antibiotics alone can fail to halt the infection.