Can my eye be pushed forward, back to the position it was originally in? (Photo)

Question

I was elbowed in the eye eight months ago and had surgery a month later to repair a fractured orbital floor. Before and after the surgery I noticed the my eye sat further back in the socket than the other eye. The doctor said the surgery would fix this but after the surgery nothing had changed. I open my eye lids with my hands to see the tissue around my eyes and the tissue around the eye that is pushed back is inflamed and isn't as prominent in comparison to the normal eye. Can this be fixed?

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

For complex case, it is really necesary to have personal consultation with review of CT scan of orbits. Revision orbit surgery may be possible.

Bradford S. Patt, MD · Answer

You should be seen by a board certified facial plastic surgeon to evaluate your condition and see if you have post traumatic enophthalmos(eyeball sunken in). This can be corrected with an implant along the floor of the orbital cavity.  After an orbital blowout fracture if it is corrected fully there still can be mild asymmetry to the two orbits depending on the severity of the fracture.

William Marshall Guy, MD · Answer

Hello Bt135,Sorry to hear about the fracture around your eye socket.  When this happens the previously enclosed space opens up whcih has the effect of increasing the volume of the eye socket.  This is why the eyeball looks like it is farther back.  With surgery the goal is to try to restore the original volume with the use of plates as well as prevent the eyeball from dropping down with time. However, this is not always a perfect science.  Post operatively it is easier to correct an eye that is still sticking out too much than one that is farther back.  You should follow up with your surgeon but it's possible there won't be much that can be done.

Can my eye be pushed forward, back to the position it was originally in? (Photo)

Answers (3)