Spontaneous enophthalmos associated with chronic maxillary sinusitis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Enophthalmos and ptosis are typically linked to orbital trauma causing blowout fractures.
• These fractures disrupt the orbital floor, leading to loss of inferior globe support.

Observation:

• Five patients presented with spontaneous enophthalmos and ptosis.
• These cases were unassociated with any history of orbital trauma.

Findings:

• A syndrome of spontaneous enophthalmos and ptosis was observed.
• The condition appears to involve spontaneous dissolution of the orbital floor.
• A strong association with chronic ipsilateral maxillary sinus disease was noted.

Implications:

• This suggests a non-traumatic etiology for orbital floor changes.
• Chronic maxillary sinusitis may play a role in the development of spontaneous enophthalmos and ptosis.
• Further investigation into the link between sinus disease and orbital structure is warranted.