Thomas Eye Group
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Orbital Fracture Repair
The eye is housed in what is called the orbit. The orbit has a wall on either side, a roof and a floor. The floor of the orbit, which lies under the eyeball, is the most common part of the orbit to become fractured or broken. This can occur when there is trauma to the eye area. Automobile accidents, falls, and fist fights are the most common causes of an orbital floor fracture.
When the orbital floor is fractured, the structures behind the eye and the eye itself can get caught in the fracture or the break in the bone. When this happens, patients can experience double vision, pain or a sunken appearance of the eye.
Repair of the fracture must be performed in certain circumstances. Repair involves removing any orbital structure from the fracture area and repairing the break by means of a plate. The plate reforms the floor and provides support for the eye itself. This is usually done as an outpatient surgery which allows patients to go home after surgery. It usually takes approximately one hour to perform this surgery and there is minimal pain or discomfort following the surgery. Patients use eye drops for one week after surgery to prevent infection.
