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Smith and Nesi’s Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery pp 297–308Cite as

Orbital Foreign Bodies and Penetrating Orbital Injuries

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Abstract

Penetrating orbital injuries with or without retained intraorbital foreign bodies (IOrbFBs) are uncommon but often dramatic injuries. In legend and history, there have been some notable examples of this type of trauma. Homer related how Odysseus, on his wanderings, visited the cave of the Cyclops, was imprisoned by one of them, Polyphemus, and was only able to escape by spearing the monster’s single eye, blinding him, and then escaping among the sheep and goats in the morning when the cave was opened to let them out. The blinded Polyphemus felt along the backs of the animals as they passed in an attempt to detect any escapees, but Odysseus evaded detection by slinging himself under the belly of the leading ram. At the Battle of Hastings in 1066, England’s King Harold famously sustained a penetrating orbital injury with an arrow but probably died of other injuries sustained on the battlefield.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orbital Plastic and Lacrimal Clinic, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Alan A. McNab M.B., B.S., F.R.A.N.Z.C.O. & Dr. Khami Satchi M.B., B.Chir, F.R.C.O phth

Authors
  1. Alan A. McNab M.B., B.S., F.R.A.N.Z.C.O.
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  2. Dr. Khami Satchi M.B., B.Chir, F.R.C.O phth
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan A. McNab M.B., B.S., F.R.A.N.Z.C.O. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Wayne State University School of Med, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Evan H. Black

  2. Oakland University William Beaumont, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology Director, Oculoplastic Surgery, Southfield, Michigan, USA

    Frank A. Nesi

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA

    Christopher J. Calvano

  4. William Beaumont School of Medicine, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology Co-Director, Oculoplastic Surgery, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Geoffrey J. Gladstone

  5. Former Chief of Ophthalmology, Emeritus Clinical Prof of Ophthalmology Case Western Reserve University, South Euclid, USA

    Mark R. Levine

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McNab, A.A., Satchi, K. (2012). Orbital Foreign Bodies and Penetrating Orbital Injuries. In: Black, E., Nesi, F., Calvano, C., Gladstone, G., Levine, M. (eds) Smith and Nesi’s Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0971-7_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0971-7_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0970-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0971-7

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