Orbital ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that affects the movement of the eyes. The term is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to help clarify its pronunciation. The word is broken down into syllables, with the emphasis on the second syllable: or-BI-tal oph-THAL-mo-PLE-jia. Each syllable contains phonetic symbols that represent the sounds of the letters in the word. This system is useful because it helps medical professionals to articulate and understand complex medical terms more easily, improving communication and accuracy in diagnosis and treatment.
Orbital ophthalmoplegia, also known as orbital apex syndrome or orbital apex neuropathy, is a medical condition characterized by paralysis or dysfunction of the muscles that control eye movements, along with various neurological symptoms associated with damage to the orbit (eye socket) or the orbital apex (where the optic nerve and other important structures pass through).
The term "orbital ophthalmoplegia" is derived from the combination of "orbital," referring to the eye socket, and "ophthalmoplegia," which indicates paralysis or weakness of the eye muscles. It is typically caused by traumatic injuries, infections, inflammations, tumors, or other pathological processes affecting the orbital apex region.
People with orbital ophthalmoplegia may experience symptoms such as double vision (diplopia), difficulty moving the eyes in different directions, limited eye movement, pain or pressure behind the eye(s), vision loss, and sensory abnormalities around the eyes or face. Neurological signs like facial numbness, headache, visual field defects, and changes in pupil size may also be present.
Diagnosis of orbital ophthalmoplegia involves a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's medical history, a thorough physical examination, imaging studies (such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), and, in some cases, blood tests. Treatment is primarily focused on addressing the underlying cause of the condition. In certain instances, surgical interventions may be necessary to relieve pressure on the optic nerve or repair any structural abnormalities in the orbital apex.
Overall, orbital ophthalmoplegia is a complex condition involving a range of eye and neurological symptoms due to damage or dysfunction in the orbital apex region.
O. due to some lesion within the orbit.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "orbital ophthalmoplegia" can be broken down into two component parts: "orbital" and "ophthalmoplegia".
1. "Orbital" comes from the Latin word "orbis" meaning "circle" or "disc". It refers to the anatomical structure known as the orbit, which is the bony cavity in the skull that contains the eyeball, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and other structures related to vision.
2. "Ophthalmoplegia" is a medical term derived from the Greek words "ophthalmos" meaning "eye" and "plegia" meaning "paralysis". It refers to the paralysis or weakness of the muscles responsible for eye movements.
Therefore, when combined, "orbital ophthalmoplegia" refers to the paralysis or weakness of eye muscles within the orbit or eye socket.