Demorbitis

Demorbitis is a term found in a limited set of medical sources to denote inflammation affecting the orbital region around the eye. It is not widely standardized and may appear in older ophthalmologic texts or regional reports, with varying definitions among authors. In practice, demorbitis often overlaps with conditions such as orbital cellulitis, orbital inflammatory syndrome, and orbital pseudotumor, and its exact meaning can differ between sources.

Clinical presentation typically includes acute eye pain, eyelid swelling, and redness, with possible diplopia or decreased visual acuity if the optic nerve or extraocular muscles are involved. Proptosis, restricted eye movements, and pupil abnormalities may occur in more extensive disease.

Causes are heterogeneous and can be infectious (for example, contiguous sinusitis leading to orbital involvement), inflammatory or autoimmune (such as idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndrome), or post-traumatic. Less commonly, neoplastic processes can imitate demorbititis.

Diagnosis relies on clinical evaluation, supported by imaging—computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging—to assess orbital contents—and laboratory studies to identify infection or inflammatory activity. Important differential diagnoses include orbital cellulitis, sinusitis with orbital extension, thyroid eye disease, and orbital tumors.

Treatment is etiology-driven. Infectious cases require targeted antimicrobial therapy; inflammatory cases may respond to systemic corticosteroids, with immunosuppressants used for refractory situations. Surgical intervention may be necessary for abscess drainage, orbital decompression when indicated, or diagnostic biopsy.

Prognosis varies with the underlying cause and promptness of treatment. Many patients improve with appropriate therapy, but delays or misdiagnosis can lead to complications such as persistent vision changes or vision loss. The term demorbitis is infrequently used in modern practice, with clinicians preferring more specific diagnostic labels.