The orbit is the bony socket that holds and protects the eye. Its walls are thin. So a hit to the eye can crack the floor or the inner wall. Doctors call this a blowout fracture. Where the nose meets the eyes, several small bones join. This area is the naso-orbito-ethmoid, or NOE. A heavy hit can move these bones.
Why it matters
- Vision comes first. The team checks the eye with care before other steps.
- Double vision can happen. This is because a muscle can get trapped, or the eye can sink a little.
- NOE injuries can flatten the top of the nose. They can also make the gap between the eyes wider if the surgeon does not repair them.
How surgeons treat it
A small, stable break may only need checks. If the eye loses its support, or a muscle is trapped, the surgeon rebuilds the wall of the socket. A thin implantA support that a surgeon fixes in the body. For example, to replace a missing tooth. sometimes holds the wall. The surgeon also fixes the bones at the top of the nose. The cuts are hidden.