Eye Injury Known as Orbital Fracture

Your eyes are supported by bones, and these bones can get damaged if the eyes get hit. Thus orbital fractures refer to damage to the bones in the eye area. You generally get an orbital fractures from an injury such as when you bump into something or get hit by someone. An orbital fracture can lead to severe eye injury and serious eye problems.

There are symptoms to watch out for such as swelling, pain, double vision, bruising, and decreased eye movements. The victim might find it hard to move his eyes, discovering that the eye (or eyes) are stationary in a downward position. It is entirely possible that the patient will have other symptoms depending on the extent of the damage, like if the eyeball was affected, so proper medical attention from an eye doctor is an absolute must.

If no eye treatment is sought, it possible for the eye injury to get progressively worse. For instance, the vision eye problems could increase. Plus, it is possible that the eyeball was affected, or in the cases when some orbital fractures that can only be repaired with eye surgery, and this makes it risky to try to self diagnose.

If the eye has been hit very hard, other complications could arise like sections of the eye muscles getting trapped in a fracture, or nerve injuries that could hamper feelings in the cheek or lip areas. You could also have problems blowing your nose.

In the area where there is swelling, fluids and blood could start to build up, and this will affect your sight as well as blood flow around the area, not to mention the outer appearance of a black eye. One possible eye problem you could also have because of the severe trauma would be a problem with your optic nerve because of the affected blood vessels.

An eye exam will let you and your eye doctor know if there is a fracture in the orbit or not. Usually a CT scan will be sufficient for an accurate diagnosis. The eye treatment for a fractured orbit would range from pain relievers, ice packs, nasal spray to avoid blowing your nose and nose bleeds, and surgery or implants. However, the last 2 options should only be considered by the eye doctor as a last resort.

Generally, the body will be able to heal itself. In this case, an eye doctor should wait at least 3 days before deciding for surgery or implants. This is because it is very possible for the eyelid fracture to get better within this time frame.