Orbital cellulitis with abscess formation following surgical treatment of canaliculitis.

The authors report a case of orbital cellulitis with abscess formation that developed after surgical management of canaliculitis. The patient developed pain, erythema, proptosis, and limited eye movements 3 days after canalicular debridement. She required urgent drainage of an orbital abscess and was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 2 weeks. Complications from surgical management of canaliculitis are unusual. Clinicians should be aware of the rare but serious risk of spread of the infection to the orbit.