Fractured Eye Socket
The eye socket is a cover of bone that surrounds the eye. There are 7 bones that make up the eye socket. A fractured eye socket involves one or more of these 7 bones and generally causes intense pain, swelling, and a black eye.
Types of Fractures
- Rim fracture
- Floor fracture
- Wall fractured
- Trapdoor fracture
Symptoms
In most cases, patients complain of pain, swelling and blurred vision. The other symptoms listed below will be dependent on the type of fracture and how bad that fracture is.
- A black eye
- Swelling of the eyelid
- Redness and bleeding in the white part of the eye
- Unusual position of the eye (sunken or bulging eye)
- Numbness in the eyelids, forehead, cheeks, or upper lip/teeth area (same side as fracture)
- double vision, blurred vision, or decreased vision
- Difficulty in moving the eye (up, down and side to side)
- a drooping eyelid
- sensitivity to light
- a flattened cheek, usually painful when opening the mouth
- a puffy accumulation of air under the skin near the eye
- nausea and vomiting, in the case of trapdoor fractures
Causes
Sports injuries can cause a broken eye socket, particularly those with a ball, stick or moving body parts. Fractures are common during assault or injury where the cheek and nose may also break.
Surgery
The surgery can be done without any visible scarring. Sometimes a titanium plate is needed to fully repair the break. Surgery will correct the double vision and sunken appearance. In some cases, it should be carried out urgently, whilst in others, it is delayed for 7 – 10 days.