What Is Orbital Myositis?

A painful affliction of the eye muscles, ocular myositis occurs as a side effect of another condition such as cellulitis, infection or cancer. Treating the underlying cause can cure this condition.

Description

• Ocular myositis involves an inflammation of the extraocular eye muscles that can affect one or both eye, according to a clinical article posted in the journal "Eye."

Extraocular Muscles

• The extraocular eye muscles control eye movement, according to Saint Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute. Four of these muscles move the eye vertically or horizontally, while two other muscles control inward or outward rotation.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of ocular myositis include severe pain in the eye, difficulty moving the eye, a swollen eyelid and sensitivity to light.

Associated Conditions

• Ocular myositis may occur in conjunction with sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities. The eye disorder can also accompany cellulitis, Lyme disease or certain other immune disorders, Crohn’s disease and lymphomas.

Treatment

• Treatment for ocular myositis depends on the associated conditions causing the disorder. Antibiotics, for instance, can resolve ocular myositis caused by infection. Low doses of steroids can help to resolve stubborn cases.