1. The Case of the Proptosed Eye
By Sandra Brautigam

2. What is Proptosis?
• Proptosis is when the eye
(globe) moves forward
out of its orbit
– Also called eye luxation or
displacement
• This causes lots of
swelling and bleeding
– Often very painful

3. MRI of Proptosis
• This view is as if you are
looking down on the top
of the head
• The left eye is much
farther forward than the
right in this image.
• This one is caused by a
tumor in the brain of a
human

4. Causes of Proptosis
• Trauma
– Most common cause in dogs and cats
• Hit By Car
• Dog fight
• Brachycephalic Breeds are predisposed
– Dogs with short noses
• Pugs, Boston Terriers, Pekignese

5. Treatment Plan
• Pain medications as this
can be quite painful
• Keep the eye moist so it
wouldn’t dry out
• Anesthetize the patient to
see how much damage
there is to the eye

6. Surgery
• Used to analyze the degree of
damage
– Either can be returned to its orbit
– Or if too damaged it may need to
be completely removed
(enucleation)
• The eyelids are then sutured shut
to help prevent infection and to
promote healing
• The patient is sent home with
some more pain medications and
antibiotics

7. Possible Complications
• Could lose vision in that eye
– 40-60% of patients recover vision and depends on the
severity
• Could get an infection
• Could get glaucoma
• These all depend on the severity of the proptosis

8. Works Cited
• Kahn, C. M. (2010). The Merck veterinary
manual (10th ed.). Whitehouse Station,
N.J.: Merck & Co..
• Tilley, L. P. (2011). Blackwell's five-minute
veterinary consult (5th ed.). Chichester,
West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.

9. Special Thank You to
Iowa Veterinary Specialties’
Doctors and Staff
For being wonderful mentors