Can a common cold cause a serious eye infection like Sophie Bell's?

Yes, a cold can lead to sinus infections that may spread and cause serious eye and brain infections if not treated promptly.

What is orbital cellulitis and is it dangerous?

Orbital cellulitis is a severe infection of the tissues around the eye, which can be life-threatening and lead to vision loss or brain complications.

How long does recovery take after brain surgery for an eye infection?

Recovery times vary, but Sophie Bell made a 'miraculous recovery' after her nine-hour surgery and subsequent intensive care.

Home / Health / Teen's Cold Leads to Brain Surgery After Eye Infection

Teen's Cold Leads to Brain Surgery After Eye Infection

1 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A common cold escalated into a deadly eye infection requiring emergency neurosurgery.
A 17-year-old experienced severe headaches and a bulging eye before diagnosis.
Doctors discovered the infection spreading to the teen's brain, risking meningitis.

Teen's Cold Leads to Brain Surgery After Eye Infection

A teenage pharmacy assistant nearly lost her life after a common cold developed into a severe eye infection and spread to her brain, requiring emergency neurosurgery. The 17-year-old suffered from persistent headaches for a month before waking with a severely swollen and bulging eye. Despite initial antibiotic treatment, her condition deteriorated, causing extreme pain and vision loss.

Diagnosed with orbital cellulitis, doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital and The Royal London Hospital found the infection had infiltrated her brain, posing a significant risk of meningitis. This critical development led to urgent nine-hour brain surgery, involving the removal of a portion of her skull to clear the infection.

Following a miraculous recovery in intensive care, the teenager is now urging others to take seemingly minor infections seriously. Her experience highlights the potential dangers of sinus infections, emphasizing the importance of seeking medical attention promptly for unusual symptoms, even those stemming from a simple cold.