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Mucoceles of the eye
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
A mucocele of the eye develops when the drainage of normal sinus secretion is disrupted due to infection, allergy, trauma, or congenital narrowness of the drainage pathways. A slowly enlarging cyst with mucoid contents and epithelial-cellular detritus is formed, which gradually destroys the bone wall of the sinus and spreads to the surrounding tissues. Growth into the orbit most often occurs with mucocele of the frontal or ethmoid sinus and less often with maxillary sinus.
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Symptoms of mucocele of the eye
Pain in the forehead, exophthalmos or dystopia, swelling of the periorbital region or upper eyelid.
Mucocele of the eye manifests itself in middle age as exophthalmos, dystopia, diplopia or lacrimation. Pain is not typical unless infection occurs (mucopiocele).
CT reveals a soft tissue mass with thinning of the sinus bone wall.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Treatment of mucocele of the eye
Treatment of mucocele of the eye consists of complete surgical removal of the mucocele with restoration of normal drainage function or obliteration of the sinus cavity.