Bulging Eyes

Q: Dr. Eppley, What can be the most likely solution to my bulging eyes? You can see in my pictures that my eyes stick out. They have been this way since I was little girl. 

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. The first question to answer is whether this is exophthalmos due to a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism. But since your eyes have always been ‘buggy’ it would be reasonable to assume that this is their natural appearance. It looks like you have what is known as pseudoproptosis. (appears like eye bulging when in fact it is not) This is due to a lack of bony rim/fullness around the eye particularly in the superior and lateral orbital rim areas. When the bony rims are recessed or not adequately projected the eyeball will look like it is sticking out when in fact its position is normal within the orbital box. The fact that they have been this way your whole life would support that this is just the way your face developed. Placing custom made superior and lateral orbital rim implants through an eyelid incision or doing it from above through a scalp incision would be the only way to improve this bulging eye appearance.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana