Anat Cell Biol.  2017 Mar;50(1):41-47. 10.5115/acb.2017.50.1.41.

Three-dimensional and topographic relationships between the orbital margins with reference to assessment of eyeball protrusion

• Shin KJ
• Lee SH
• Koh KS
• Song WC

• KMID: 2390425
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2017.50.1.41

Abstract

This study investigated the topographic relationships among the eyeball and four orbital margins with the aim of identifying the correlation between orbital geometry and eyeball protrusion in Koreans. Three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering of the face was performed using serial computed-tomography images of 141 Koreans, and several landmarks on the bony orbit and the cornea were directly marked on the 3D volumes. The anterior-posterior distances from the apex of the cornea to each orbital margin and between the orbital margins were measured in both eyes. The distances from the apex of the cornea to the superior, medial, inferior, and lateral orbital margins were 5.8, 5.8, 12.0, and 17.9 mm, respectively. Differences between sides were observed in all of the orbital margins, and the distances from the apex of the cornea to the superior and inferior orbital margins were significantly greater in females than in males. The anterior-posterior distance between the superior and inferior orbital margins did not differ significantly between males (6.3 mm) and females (6.2 mm). The data obtained in this study will be useful when developing practical guidelines applicable to forensic facial reconstruction and orbitofacial surgeries.

Keyword

Orbit; Eyeball; Protrusion; Orbitofacial surgery; Forensic facial reconstruction

MeSH Terms

Cornea
Female
Humans
Male
Orbit*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Bony landmarks around the orbit. C, apex of the cornea; FH, Frankfurt horizontal plane; IOM, inferior orbital margin; LOM, lateral orbital margin; MOM, medial orbital margin; SOM, superior orbital margin.

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  Fig. 2 The anterior-posterior distances from the apex of cornea to each orbital margin and among the orbital margins. C, apex of the cornea; C-I, cornea-IOM; C-L, cornea-LOM; C-M, cornea-MOM; C-S, cornea-SOM; IOM, inferior orbital margin; LOM, lateral orbital margin; MOM, medial orbital margin; SOM, superior orbital margin.

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  Fig. 3 Schematic superior view of the skull indicating asymmetry between the right and left orbits. The orbital margins close to and far from the apex of cornea are indicated in blak and white arrows, respectively. IOM, inferior orbital margin; LOM, lateral orbital margin; ML, midline; MOM, medial orbital margin; SOM, superior orbital margin; TLC, transverse line passing through the apex of cornea.

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  Fig. 4 Schematic illustrations of the orbital geometry and eyeball protrusion. The orbits of males (solid line) and females (dotted line) are superimposed to highlight subtle differences. Superior orbital margin and inferior orbital margin were regressed about 1 mm and the eyeballs were slightly more exposed in the orbit in females compared to males.

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