Orbital fractures

Patients can be advised to use ice packs to reduce edema in the form of proprietary medical cold packs, or a pack of frozen peas (wrapped in a thin tea towel to prevent cold thermal injury to soft tissues).

Patients should be informed that vision impairment may occur for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, but full resolution may not occur for many months, and vision may not return to pre-injury level of function.

Patients should be advised to avoid blowing their nose for the 2 weeks after both the initial injury and following surgery, as this may cause surgical emphysema.