Diseases of the eye socket
Some of the structures within the eye socket are sensitive to pain and can become diseased. Pain in the eye is most often caused by the eyelids, the lacrimal gland or the conjunctiva. Since the eye socket provides an opening into the inside of the body, it is also an entry point for pathogens that can cause painful inflammation.
One of the most common causes of blindness worldwide is glaucoma. Glaucoma, also known as glaucoma, leads to high intraocular pressure and can occur as an attack with severe eye pain. A fracture of the orbit of the eye is also known as an orbital fracture in medical terminology.
It occurs mainly as a result of blunt force, for example as a fall on the face, in collision with solid objects or as a result of deliberate violence (blows). The bony structures of the eye socket are designed to protect the eye from the same kind of violence. If the outer bones are bruised, the eye socket can break.
In most cases, the fracture occurs either in the floor or in the roof of the orbit, with the orbital floor fracture occurring more frequently. The secondary consequence is an impairment of the visual system. Double vision and restrictions in eye movement are the most common consequences.
Bruising in the orbit can also occur. The intraocular pressure can also increase. If the sensitive nerves are affected, there may be tingling and perception restrictions in the facial area.
With the help of certain vision tests, doctors can determine whether the eye muscles are affected by short-term failures or actual paralysis. Often an improvement occurs of its own accord after a few weeks. Operations for orbital fractures are very controversial, as the success of interventions is only moderate.
The severity of the symptoms and the subsequent treatment depend on the severity of the fracture. Often only one wall is affected, but in severe comminuted fractures up to four walls of the orbit may be broken. The bony structures of the eye socket are designed to protect the eye from the same violent impact.
If there is a contusion of the external bones, the orbit may break. In most cases, the fracture occurs either in the floor or in the roof of the orbit, with the orbital floor fracture occurring more frequently. The secondary consequence is an impairment of the visual system.
Double vision and restrictions in eye movement are the most common consequences. Bruising in the orbit can also occur. The intraocular pressure can also increase.
If the sensitive nerves are affected, there may be tingling and perception restrictions in the facial area. With the help of certain vision tests, doctors can determine whether the eye muscles are affected by short-term failures or actual paralysis. Often an improvement occurs of its own accord after a few weeks.
Operations for orbital fractures are very controversial, as the success of interventions is only moderate. The severity of the symptoms and the subsequent treatment depend on the severity of the fracture. Often only one wall is affected, but in severe comminuted fractures up to four walls of the orbit may be broken.
Swelling in the orbit can have various causes. One easily treatable cause is an inflammation, which is carried away from e.g. the paranasal sinus or an inflamed tooth into the orbit. This swelling is treated with antibiotic therapy, which should be started as soon as possible.
However, endocrine orbitopathy (EO), which in most cases occurs in connection with Graves’ disease, is also an option. It is an autoimmune disease that leads to an enlargement of retrobulbar structures (connective, fatty and muscle tissue). A more serious disease is rhabdomyosarcoma, which often manifests itself in the eye socket.
This is a malignant tumour that is treated with surgery and subsequent radiation or chemotherapy. Further interesting information on this topic can be found at Swelling of the eyesThe most common cause of eye pain is inflammation of the structures of the eye socket. The inflammation is often caused by bacteria or viruses, but sometimes also by fungi or parasites.
The eye fends off a large part of the pathogens on a daily basis, but it always offers a potential entry point into the body. Especially smear infections by the own hand cause inflammations. External stimuli such as glaring sunlight, dust or permanent draught on the eye can also cause inflammation.
Theoretically, all structures of the eye socket can be affected: the eyelids, the tear glands, the cornea, the outer, middle and inner eye skin, but also the optic nerve or the eye muscles. Especially the conjunctivitis, the so-called “conjunctivitis” is a typical clinical picture. Symptoms are outwardly visible redness, sensitivity to touch, foreign body sensations and sometimes purulent secretions with sticking together of the eyelids. In very rare cases, the so-called “trigeminal nerve” may be involved, and even slight touches of the facial skin can cause stabbing pain.
