Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Periorbital edema
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Periorbital edema refers to swelling around the eyes.
Causes
Causes
Common Causes
- Acute dacryocytosis
- Aging changes
- Allergy
- Blepharitis
- Cardiac failure
- Chalazion
- Chemical burn
- Contact dermatitis
- Dacryoadenitis
- Dermatitis
- Dermatomyositis
- Discoid lupus
- Drugs
- Herpes Simplex
- Herpes Zoster
- Hypothyroidism
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Orbital Disease
- Orbital fat herniation
- Orbital cicarticial pemphigoid
- Preseptal/periorbital cellulitis
- Renal Failure
- Sebaceous gland carcinoma
- Squamous or basal cell carcinoma
- Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
- Thermal burn
- Trauma
- Ultraviolet burn
Causes by Organ System
- Abnormal sleep length
- Acute dacryocytosis
- Aging changes
- Allergies
- Athyrotic hypothyroidism sequence
- Blepharitis
- Cardiac failure
- Cavernous sinus syndrome polyneuropathy
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis
- Chagas disease
- Chalazion
- Chemical burn
- Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus
- Congestive cardiac failure
- Conjunctivitis
- Dacryoadenitis
- Dermatitis
- Dermatomyositis
- Discoid lupus
- Ent tumour
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Excessive sodium consumption
- Eye trauma
- Eyelid infection
- Head trauma
- Hematoma
- Herniated fat
- Herpes simplex
- Herpes zoster
- Hibernian fever
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypoalbuminemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Ingenol mebutate
- Insect bites
- Keratitis
- Melkersson-rosenthal-schuermann syndrome
- Menstruation
- Mononucleosis
- Nabilone
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Obstruction of the superior vena cava
- Orbital bone trauma
- Orbital cellulitis
- Orbital cicarticial pemphigoid
- Orbital disease
- Orbital fat herniation
- Orbital inflammation
- Periorbital cellulitis
- Postinfectious glomerulonephritis
- Pramipexole
- Pregnancy
- Renal conditions
- Renal failure
- Sebaceous gland carcinoma
- Sebelipase alfa
- Sinusitis
- Smoking
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Staphylococcal infection
- Steroids
- Stye
- Sulfasalazine
- Superior vena cava syndrome
- Tear glands
- Thermal burn
- Tick bite on scalp
- Trauma
- Trichinella spiralis
- Trichinosis
- Tumors
- Ultraviolet burn
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
- History includes:
- Symptomatic history
- Exposure history
- Past medical history
- Family history
- Medicinal history
Eyes
- Full opthamologic exam:
- Chemosis
- Cutaneous vesicles
- Discharge
- Erythmia
- Proptosis
- Tenderness
Laboratory Findings
- Labs include:
- Albumin
- ANA
- BUN / Creatinine
- CBCD
- ESR
- TSH
- Urinalysis
- Culture of eye
- Gram stain if suspected infection
CT
- CT of eyes, head and neck if deemed necessary
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
- Consider echo if CHF is suspected
Other Diagnostic Studies
- Consider biopsy of lesions if necessary
Treatment
Treatment
- Opthalmology consult
Acute Pharmacotherapies
- Treat with topical antibiotics
- If an allergy, remove allergen, add cold compress and antihistamines
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2] Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.