The Orbit

The orbit is a bony socket which houses the eyeball. It is akin to a jewel box which securely houses the jewel (in this case the eyeball).

The orbit contains fat, connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves apart from the eyeball.

The orbit is formed of parts of the ethmoid, frontal, lacrimal, nasal, palatine, sphenoid, and zygomatic bones and the maxilla.

      What types of diseases can affect the orbit and what are the effects.

All diseases known to affect elsewhere in the body have been reported in the orbit. These range from inflammations (eg.  thyroid eye disease), infections (bacterial, fungal and parasitic), tumours (benign, malignant and metastatic), vascular conditions (arterio-venous malformations) and fractures. The orbit can also be affected by congenital disorders where there is abnormal closure of the cranial bones ( bones that make the skull).

The most common effect of a tumour in the orbit is a forward protrusion of the eyeball giving the eye a "large" appearance. There may be associated fall in the vision, double vision, pain, watering and a general sense of tightness around the eyes. In cases of fractures of the orbit there will be an initial forward protrusion of the eyeball followed by a later “smaller appearance “of the eyeball.

What are the treatment options?

Orbital conditions need to be evaluated in detail. Additional tests are required in the form of blood tests, imaging tests such as Ultrasonography of the orbit, CT scan and MRI scan of the orbit and brain if needed. Depending on the condition treatment options are either medical (with drugs) or surgical (orbitotomy)