Short‐ and long‐term vertical diplopia secondary to blunt trauma

• Published in: Clinical and experimental optometry 2007-11, Vol.90 (6), p.457-462
• Main Authors: Turnbull, Philip RK, Vingrys, Algis J, Kalloniatis, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Athletic Injuries - complications; Athletic Injuries - diagnostic imaging; cranial nerve injuries; diplopia; Diplopia - etiology; Diplopia - physiopathology; eye injuries; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; orbital fracture; Orbital Fractures - complications; Orbital Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Radiography; Time Factors; Vision, Binocular - physiology; Visual Acuity; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - complications; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0816-4622; 1444-0938
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1444-0938.2007.00179.x

This report describes the short‐ and long‐term ocular signs and symptoms of a patient with an orbital blow‐out fracture and discusses the differential diagnosis of vertical diplopia. A blow‐out fracture occurs when blunt trauma is applied either directly to the eyeball itself or the orbital rim and usually results in a fracture of the orbital floor with consequential excavation and entrapment of orbital contents in the fracture. Vertical diplopia is a common presenting symptom for a blow‐out fracture of the orbit but careful considerations should be given to other potential conditions leading to such diplopia. A patient is presented who suffered a blow‐out fracture almost a decade earlier, secondary to blunt trauma to the globe. The clinical findings are provided immediately after the trauma, post‐surgery and during a recent ocular examination.