Orbital Disease Management
Common orbital conditions
Common orbital disorders include tumours, fractures, infections, inflammatory conditions and vascular lesions or malformations. Thyroid eye disease is included in this broad category as well. As they may present with similar features of a bulging and swollen eye, with or without redness, pain, blurring of vision or double vision, a comprehensive orbital examination and appropriate investigations are required to identify the underlying problem. This is important as a specific diagnosis will allow the orbital surgeon to carve out a specific management plan for the patient. It is good to know that some orbital conditions are more complex than others and may require multi-disciplinary consultation and discussion before treatment recommendation.
Orbital surgeries
Common orbital surgeries include orbital biopsies, orbital fracture repair, orbital decompression for severe thyroid eye disease, drainage of orbital abscesses and excision of orbital tumours. This is highly sub-specialised complex surgery and some cases may involve a team of surgeons rather than just one surgeon, particularly in the case of orbital decompression and orbital tumour excision surgery. Surgery can last from an hour to more than six hours.