A broken eye socket is a serious medical condition that you’ll want to address immediately if you believe that you have suffered one. Below we cover some of the most common causes of a broken eye socket.
Causes of a Broken Eye Socket
The eye socket is a complex set of bones that surrounds and protects the more vulnerable parts of the eye from harm. Some sections of it are more durable, while others are more fragile and prone to breaking.
It should go without saying that you can avoid medical expenses, pain, and hassle by avoiding sustaining injury to this vital part of the body and having to seek out orbital trauma repair near you.
Here is a list of common causes of broken eye sockets so that you can stay informed on what to keep an eye out for, so to speak.
Accidents in Life
One of the most common ways to break an eye socket is through suffering an accident where there is traumatic impact to this area of the body.
Falling, tripping, or being involved in a bicycle or car accident are some of the many ways that this can express itself.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of accidents themselves, it’s hard to make plans to avoid them. However, it remains useful to be aware of the possible damage one can sustain to their eyes.
Accidents at Work
Accidents occur in the workplace as well, and it’s quite common for individuals to sustain damage to the eye while working with tools and heavy machinery.
Hammers, drills, and other useful objects can become menacing when they turn on the eye socket and other areas of the body that are vulnerable.
For this reason, wearing protective eyewear and following other essential safety precautions becomes essential when in workplaces such as these.
Fights and Physical Assaults
Another unfortunately common way that eye sockets are broken is through physical fighting and physical assaults.
There should be no need to explain why instances such as these are unacceptable and harmful, but unfortunately, both still occur with alarming frequency in day-to-day life.
The eye socket is a prominent enough bone in the facial region that it is vulnerable to an errant foot or fist that is thrown toward an individual.
Sports Injuries
An additional common cause of eye socket breakage is injuries that are sustained while playing sports.
The risk is there regardless of what sport is being played, but certain activities carry more risk overall.
Contact sports such as American Football, Rugby, and other higher-intensity activities are more likely to result in higher rates of injury for the participants.
For this reason, it’s very important to follow all of the safety regulations. Also, wear all safety equipment provided in whatever activity you might be engaged in.
Indications of A Broken Eye Socket
If you’ve sustained an injury to your eye socket and are worried that it might be broken, then it’s wise to stay apprised of some of the indications of such an event. Your eye socket might be broken if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Swelling
- Double vision, blurred vision, or difficulty seeing
- Difficulty or inability to move the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Black eyes with heavy discoloration
- A flat cheek that makes it painful to open the mouth
- A sunken or bulging eye
- Drooping eyelids
- Pockets of air under the skin
Overall, a broken eye socket will be much more painful and limiting than a simple black eye. Worried that you may be suffering from a broken eye socket? Then it’s imperative that you head to an emergency room immediately to be diagnosed and seek treatment.
Types of Broken Eye Sockets
Since the eye socket is a collection of bones, there are several different varieties of fractures that are possible to sustain. The main types of broken eye sockets include:
- Orbital Rim Fracture: a fracture that affects the outer edges of the socket.
- Direct Orbital Floor Fracture: a fracture that affects the orbital floor.
- Indirect Orbital Floor Fracture: a fracture that leaves holes that can trap nerves or tissues within.
- Trapdoor Fracture: a fracture that is more common in children due to their bones being more flexible.
Regardless of what type of fracture you have received, immediate medical care is warranted in all scenarios.
Don’t Delay in Seeking Treatment
If you suspect that you’re suffering from a broken eye socket, it’s imperative that you seek out treatment immediately. Infocus Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery has the expertise to diagnose and repair orbital fractures. Give our website a visit and find out why we’re Corona’s preferred facial eyelid surgeon near you.