Enophthalmos is a medical term used to describe a condition in which the eyeball appears sunken or recessed within the eye socket, also known as the orbit. The term "enophthalmos" is derived from the Greek words "en" meaning "in" or "within," and "ophthalmos" referring to "eye."
Enophthalmos can result from various underlying causes, such as trauma, injury, surgery, or certain medical conditions. It is commonly associated with orbital fractures, which occur when the bones surrounding the eye become fractured or broken. When enophthalmos occurs due to orbital fractures, it often indicates a displacement or shifting of the eyeball backward into the orbit, making it appear recessed.
The condition can also be caused by the loss or atrophy of orbital fat and connective tissues that support the eyeball within the eye socket. This loss of volume can occur due to several reasons, including aging, infections, inflammation, or certain diseases such as Graves' disease.
Clinically, enophthalmos presents as a sunken appearance of the affected eye, which can cause asymmetry between the two eyes. Other symptoms may include decreased eye movement, double vision, or protrusion of the eyeball from the other eye in severe cases.
The diagnosis of enophthalmos typically involves a thorough physical examination, medical history review, and possibly imaging studies such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the underlying cause and severity of the condition.
Treatment for enophthalmos depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. In some cases, no intervention may be necessary if the condition is mild or asymptomatic. However, surgical intervention may be required to reconstruct the orbital bones, restore volume, or reposition the eyeb
