What is orbital proptosis?
Eye bulging (orbital proptosis) is the appearance of the eyes being pushed out of the eye sockets, and can be caused from a multitude of reasons.
Is orbital proptosis (bulging eye) dangerous?
Although orbital proptosis is known to produce an unpleasing appearance of the eye, it can be dangerous over time. If the eyelids are unable to close due to the severity of the bulging, then chronically dry eyes can result in scratching of the cornea. Additionally, increased stretching of the eyelids over the eyes causes friction producing irritation of the eye. Most seriously, too much displacement of the eye out of the eye socket can put pressure on the optic nerve and lead to blindness.
What causes a bulging eye?
Orbital proptosis is most commonly caused by Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disease that causes excess thyroid hormone production. This disease process can eventually cause deposition of connective tissue around the eye and slowly cause it protrude out of the eye socket. Other causes of orbital proptosis include an abscess or tumor within the orbit that pushes the eye forward.
How is orbital proptosis treated?
Treating the underlying cause, like Grave’s disease, is essential in ensuring that the eye bulging does not continue to worsen. Assuming this is taken care of, a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure can be performed in order to permit more room for the eye to sink back into the socket. This is called an orbital wall decompression. The sinus cavities next to the eye is opened, and the thin wall that borders the eye is then removed. An incision is then made into the fat that surrounds the eye. The orbital fat can then protrude into the sinus cavity, releasing the pressure for the eye to sink back into the socket.
