Abstract

Background: Allergic fungal rhino-sinusitis(AFRS) is a benign noninvasive sinus disease related to hypersensitivity to fungal inhalation occurs in young immunocompetent individuals . AFRS can present with serious orbital complication.
Aim: This study was conducted To determine the common features of orbital complications due to allergic fungal rhino-sinusitis .
Methods: A retrospective study of 60 patients. At Aseer central Hospital ( Abha, Saudi Arabia) from 2010 to 2013. All diagnosed and treated for allergic fungal rhino-sinusitis. Diagnosis was made based on Bent – Kuhn criteria and analysis of CT scan reports of these patients, the data coded-edited-analyzed using SPSS IBM version 22.
Results: Out of 60 patients 27 had orbital complications, Eye proptosis 63%, diplopia 22% and Unilateral complete blindness 15%.
Fungal hyphae was not demonstrated histopathologically in any of these patients. The presence of fungal mucin was prevalent in all these patients.
Eye proptosis has good dramatic respond to surgical and post operative treatment while diplopia take longer time to improve after surgical and medical treatment.
Conclusion: Allergic fungal rhino-sinusitis (AFRS) can present with serious orbital complication: eye proptosis, diplopia, and unilateral complete blindness. All patients with orbital involvement should be evaluated clinically and radiologically for sinus disease even in the absent of stigma of rhino-sinusitis. Early diagnoses and immediate treatment are extremely essential to prevent serious complication such as visual loss.