ABSTRACT

This chapter explores some of the issues associated with orbital conditions. The eyeball or globe is protected by the bony socket or orbit. The orbit is composed of seven bones: maxilla, frontal, lacrimal, ethmoid, sphenoid, zygomatic, and palatine. The functions of the eyelids are to protect the globe and to lubricate its anterior surface. The top lid, the larger of the two, closes over the globe to protect it. By blinking, the tear film is spread over the anterior surface thus lubricating it. The chapter discusses the signs, patient's needs, and nursing action for the disorders of the orbit and eyelids. The disorders of the orbit are orbital cellulitis, preseptal cellulitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and thyroid eye disease. The disorders of the eyelids are chalazion, oedema of the lids, staphylococcal blepharitis, trichiasis, spastic entropion, ectropion, ptosis, blepharospasm, and tumours.