ACUTE OPHTHALMIC ARTERY OBSTRUCTION SECONDARY TO SUBPERIOSTEAL ABSCESS WITH RETROBULBAR PHLEGMONOUS INFECTION

A 57-year-old diabetic woman experienced a sudden severe visual loss a nd total ophthalmoplegia in her left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging s tudies showed orbital cellulitis, located mainly in the posterior orbi t, secondary to ethmoid and maxillary sinusitis. Fundus examination an d fluorescein angiograms were suggestive of left ophthalmic artery occ lusion. Subsequent ethmoidectomy and incisional biopsies failed to sho w any specific microorganism, particularly mucormycosis. This case rep resents 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 or bital infections should be more closely monitored and surgery should b e considered in early stages of the disease.