Orbital Tumors and Trauma

The orbit is a small, compact and complex structure. Oculofacial surgeons specialize in the in this area of the face and have the extra training required to care for these problems in children and adults.

In both children and adults, a variety of tumors can occur in the eye socket. Some grow slowly, and go unnoticed while others can grow rapidly; impairing vision and causing even greater problems. CT scans and MRI’s are the best method for detecting and differentiating these lesions prior to having surgery. Once the location and the general characteristics of the lesion have been identified, a treatment plan can be created. In some instances your orbital surgeon can treat these tumors on their own, often as an outpatient. On the other hand, aggressive tumors may require the help of other surgical specialist and in patient hospital treatment.

In the United States, injuries to the eyes and eye socket are unfortunately common place. Eyelid laceration, tear drain injuries, bleeding within and bruising around the eye, and fractures of the bones of the eye socket can all occur. These injuries often occur from sporting activities, car accidents, or fist fights. Trauma to the orbit and eye area most often results in bruising followed by fractures of the orbital bone blowing out into the surrounding sinus. Fractures causing double vision or large fractures into the sinus should typically be repaired in a timely fashion. In cases when this is not possible, late repairs, despite being more difficult, can still be performed.

Sometimes trauma is severe enough to irreparably injure the eye. Diseased eyes that are blind, painful and disfiguring can be the removed when the eye can not be salvaged. Reconstruction of the eye socket to prepare it for a prosthetic eye typically leads to a very pleasing result. Eye sockets that have already had the eye removed require regular examinations and may need further reconstruction.

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