What is preseptal cellulitis?

PubMed Health defines preseptal cellulitis as a infection of the eyelid or the skin around the eye. Another name for the condition is periorbital cellulits. It most commonly occurs in children from birth to 18 months.

PubMed Health notes that the infection is caused by a scratch or injury around the eye or from a nearby location, such as the sinuses. Symptoms include redness around the eye or in the white part of the eye, and swelling of the eyelid or other skin around the eye. PubMed Health also mentions that preseptal cellulitis does not affect vision. It is typically treated with oral antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.