Exophthalmos from the standpoint of the ophthalmologist

There are many causes of abnormal protrusion of one or both eyes, the most common of which is imbalance of the glands of internal secretion. Among other causes are a variety of tumors that originate behind the eye or that extend to that location from other parts in the body. Infections can extend to the orbit behind the eye from the neighboring structures such as the paranasal sinuses. Infection may also extend to the orbit from distant areas by way of the blood and cause exophthalmos.