Eye Plastic Specialists are ophthalmologists who specialize in orbital trauma. Orbital trauma includes injuries to the orbit (pear-shaped bones surrounding the eye) or to the tissues surrounding the eye.
A foreign body could enter the orbital cavity and compromise the vital structures. Based on the history, ocular examination and radiological study, your ophthalmologist will determine whether surgical removal of the foreign body is recommended.
Penetrating injuries of the orbital region by sharp objects may result in insignificant skin trauma masking injuries to deeper tissues, such as the eyelid, eye, eye muscle, bone, or even the brain. A complete ocular examination by your eye plastic surgeon is necessary to exclude injury to the eye or surrounding tissues. A neurosurgical consultation will be necessary if the object has penetrated into the area of the brain. After confirming a normal examination of the eye and surrounding orbital tissue and bone, your eye plastic surgeon will focus on the surgical repair of the damaged tissues.
The eye is protected by a pear-shaped bony orbit. The bony floor of the orbit is particularly susceptible to a type of fracture called a "blow-out" fracture. Typically, these types of fractures are caused when the orbit is struck by a ball, fist, or a dashboard during a motor vehicle accident. You may notice bruising around the eye, double vision (diplopia), protrusion of the eye (proptosis) and/or numbness in the cheek and upper teeth areas. Your eye plastic surgeon will perform a complete ocular examination to assure that no damage has occurred to the eye. This exam may include a test where the eye is rotated to assess whether the eye muscles are involved in the fracture site. A radiological study, such as a CT scan, will be performed to assess the extent of the fracture. Your eye plastic surgeon may request that you limit pressure on the fractured site by avoiding blowing your nose and by limiting physical activity. Based upon this complete evaluation, your eye plastic surgeon may recommend surgical correction of the "blow-out" fracture either initially or within the next few weeks. Factors that will influence this decision include persistence of double vision, enophthalmos (eye appears shrunken in the orbit as swelling subsides), involvement of eye muscles and the size of the fracture. Your eye plastic surgeon will determine if surgery is necessary in your individual case to achieve satisfying cosmetic and functional results.
Craniofacial Trauma (head & face) may result in injury to the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. This type of injury is present in less than 5% of closed head trauma cases. Injury can occur not only from fractures in the bony canal around the optic nerve, but also from swelling or damage to the blood vessels supplying the optic nerve. Visual loss usually occurs instantaneously, but delayed visual loss is possible. Your eye plastic surgeon will perform a complete ocular examination to assure that no damage has occurred to the eye. Based on this information, your eye plastic surgeon will recommend one of the following treatments: (1) Intravenous steroids, or (2) Surgical intervention to correct fractures in the bony canal surrounding the optic nerve. Your eye plastic surgeon will monitor you closely in the hospital for your response to the selected treatment.