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Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120:1096-1099.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The symptoms of nasolacrimal duct obstruction include epiphora, conjunctivitis, and mucoid discharge. Dacryocystitis may develop when bacterial overgrowth occurs in the stagnant fluid of the lacrimal sac. Whereas acute dacryocystitis is usually characterized by tender preseptal cellulitis, chronic dacryocystitis typically manifests as painless purulent reflux from the lacrimal sac. Antibiotic therapy is indicated for acute infections, and dacryocystorhinostomy is the definitive treatment.

Although anterior extension into the preseptal soft tissues occurs more often in acute dacryocystitis, orbital extension can occur, although rarely, and result in orbital cellulitis and abscess formation.^1-9 Posterior extension into the orbit can result in devastating visual compromise. We describe a series of 4 patients with orbital cellulitis and abscesses secondary to dacryocystitis (Table 1).

Table appears in full text version. Table 1. Orbital Cellulitis and Abscesses Secondary to Dacryocystitis in 4 Patients

Report of Cases

Case 1

A 38-year-old woman had a history of epiphora for many years but declined surgical treatment. She had 1 . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Case 2

Case 3

Case 4

Comment
Corresponding author and reprints: Don O. Kikkawa, MD, University of California, San Diego, Department of Ophthalmology, 9415 Campus Point Dr,La Jolla, CA 92093-0946 (e-mail: dkikkawa@ucsd.edu).