Traumatic orbital emphysema: A case report

Abstract

A 30-year-old male presented with sudden diminution of vision, orbital pain, diplopia, and swelling of the eyelid of the right eye after blowing his nose within three days after a blunt ocular trauma. His best-corrected visual acuities were 6/10 in the right eye and 10/10 in the left eye. Anterior segment and fundus examination were normal bilaterally. Limitation of upward ocular motility was noticed in the right eye. Diplopia was detected in both upward and downward motilities. Intraocular pressures were 21 mmHg in OD and 16 mmHg in OS. Hertel exophthalmometry measurements were 21 mm for the right eye and 19 mm for the left eye. The direct computerized tomography image displayed the inferior orbital wall fracture and orbital emphysema in the right orbit. Prophylactic antibiotherapy was applied. The patient was advised not to blow his nose. He had no complaints on the third day after the trauma. Follow-up examinations showed no ophthalmological complications.