When patients present with bulging eyes: A case series of proptosis

ABSTRACT

Proptosis, commonly referred to as ‘bulging eyes’, is characterised by abnormal protrusion of the eyeball. This condition can arise from a variety of underlying causes, including thyroid eye disease, orbital tumours, inflammatory disorders and vascular anomalies. Timely recognition of proptosis and the underlying cause is crucial due to potentially vision-threatening conditions. We present a case series of patients who presented with proptosis and proptosis-like condition in a primary care clinic. All cases exhibited bulging of the eyes with protrusion beyond 21 mm from the orbital rim. The first case involved proptosis due to cavernous haemangioma; the second was a case of pseudoproptosis; and the final case was due to underlying thyroid eye disease. A comprehensive evaluation, including detailed history-taking and radiological imaging, was essential in identifying the specific causes of proptosis for each case, thus allowing for appropriate management strategies to be implemented.