What's the name of the condition which makes your eye socket (bone)bulge?

Question

I work at a hospital and I came across a patient who has some kind of condition where here right eye (from forehead her cheek) was "swollen" and rounded. I have never seen this and am eager to learn what this condition is called.

Its not the eyeball that is swollen it is the eye SOCKET...I don't want to sound mean, but for lack of better words or description it is similar to Sloth (from the Goonies).

Answer 1

I don't believe the exophthalmia you may be seeing is due to Graves'. That is bilateral and your patient is unilateral. Unlitateral exophthalmos can be caused by tumor, cerebral edema, intraorbital edema, paralysis or trauma to the extraocular muscles or cavernous sinus thrombosis. It can also be caused by varicose veins inside the orbit or from orbital bone injury. You're more likely to see a bilat. condition with an endocrine disorder like Graves' or hyperthyroidism.

Now, what you describe as a swelling from forehead to cheek suggests to me edema from trauma, cellulitis or tumor.

Answer 2

Ooh the guessing game!

It could possibly be Grave's disease as the other poster posted, but your description doesn't sound exactly like that. Plus most patients aren't hospitalized for Grave's disease. (Though I suppose he/she could obviously be hospitalized for something else.) And, lastly, Grave's disease and most if not all causes of hyperthyroidism (your thyroid gland's a little bit overzealous) cause protruding eyes on both sides, not just one.

So my guess is orbital cellulitis. Basically the tissue around the eye socket, not the eye itself, gets infected, swells, and becomes all edematous, sickly looking. It is a medical emergency and usually is unilateral. It's not a terribly common disease, probably not as frequent as Grave's though I'm not sure, but compared to most of the other potential, rarer causes of a big swollen eye socket, it's your most likely bet.

Answer 3

Bulging of the eye ball is Proptosis. Swelling of the eye lid is Blepharitis. The eye can also be swollen and bulging with cavernous sinus thrombosis or with cellulitis. Exophthalmos is widening of the palpebral fissure, between the upper and lower eye lid. What you have seen is probably proptosis due to malignant deposits in the eye socket.

Answer 4

I am almost positive it is graves or grays disease which is also produced from an overactive thyroid. Hope that helps. I am not a doctor so dont take too much action. :)