Protruding eyes

The orbit, or socket, of the eye is a limited space bounded by bony plates of the skull. If this space is invaded by a foreign substance, the eye can be pushed outward. Protruding or bulging eyes-- called exophthalmus (ek-sof-THAL-mus) or proptosis (prop-TOE-sus)-- may also be caused by tumors, inflammation, or bleeding within the eye socket. When this occurs, your eyes bulge forward, giving a wide-open, fixed gaze appearance. It can become difficult to focus both eyes on reading material, and double vision or headaches can result. There are also various congenital disorders that can cause protruding eyes. Thyroid eye disease, in particular, is one of the most common causes of bulging eyes. Also called Graves' disease or endocrine ophthalmopathy (END-uh-krin of-thal-MOP-uh-thee), it results in an inflammatory reaction in the connective tissue of the eye's muscles. As these muscles enlarge, they push the eye out from behind, making it shift forward so it appears to be bulging out of the socket. This can happen in one or in both eyes. The treatment of protruding eyes usually involves controlling the underlying cause. In some cases, exploratory surgery may be necessary. There is a device to measure the degree of exophthalmus, and tests such as CT (C-T) and MRI (M-R-I) scans can help with the diagnosis. An exophthalmometer (eks-sof-thal-MOM-uh-tur) is a ruler with two arms that rest on the outer rims of your orbits. Its angled mirrors enable a doctor to measure the amount of any abnormal eye protrusion from the socket. The amount of the protrusion and the difference between the two eyes can be measured quickly and easily.