Orbital cellulitis following uncomplicated phacoemulsification under peribulbar anesthesia in a known diabetic

Abstract Orbital cellulitis after cataract surgery is an uncommon complication. In diabetic patients, this condition is unique due to an increased susceptibility to severe, atypical, and life-threatening infection. We report a case of orbital cellulitis that developed after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in a patient with known diabetes mellitus. She was managed with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, and the cellulitis responded well to treatment in 4 days. This case highlights the importance of careful preoperative antiseptic skin preparation, minimal tissue trauma during peribulbar anesthesia, excluding the presence of preexisting sinusitis, and optimal glycemic control before and after cataract surgery.