Scope of the problem

Eye complaints are very frequent in the emergency department (ED), although the actual number of visits per year is not known. Patients may complain of redness, swelling, pain, foreign body sensation, flashing lights, floating spots, visual field defects, blurred and/or decreased vision. The diagnoses may be common and benign, such as allergic conjunctivitis, or uncommon and vision-threatening, such as acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG), corneal ulcers, or central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Careful attention to the history and physical examination helps delineate the problem and define the treatment.

Anatomic essentials

The bony structure of the orbit is formed by a confluence of the frontal, maxillary, and zygomatic bones. The walls of the orbit are referred to by their anatomic location: superior, inferior, medial, and lateral. The inferior orbital wall or plate is quite thin and often fractured following a direct blow to the globe or orbit. The eyelids, the lacrimal gland (tucked away under the upper lid), and the canalicular system that drains tears into the nasal cavity make up the adnexal structures of the eye (Figure 21.1).

The globe (Figure 21.2) is divided into two sections: the anterior and the posterior segment. The anterior segment includes the cornea, limbal conjunctiva, iris, anterior chamber, and the lens. The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent mucus membrane that covers the sclera (bulbar conjunctiva) and the inner surface of the eyelids (palpebral conjunctiva).