Orbital fractures.

The optometrist is often the first practitioner to see patients with ocular trauma and associated orbital fractures. Trauma is now the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. Early and accurate diagnosis of orbital fractures is required to avoid compromising the binocular vision and cosmetic appearance of the patient. With an understanding of the characteristic clinical presentations of fractures and a knowledge of current imaging techniques, these disorders can be accurately diagnosed, managed, or referred by the optometrist.