Orbital emphysema as an ophthalmologic emergency

Abstract

Orbital emphysema is generally a benign, self-limited condition. However, if a fracture produces a ball-valve effect allowing air to enter but not to leave the orbit, and if the orbital septum remains intact, then extremely high intraorbital pressure and visual loss is possible. Two cases are described of visual loss from orbital emphysema, in a 33-year-old man and a 28-year-old man, which were successfully treated by a lateral canthotomy and cantholysis.