No abstract

Orbital Adipose Tissue: Just a Fat Pad or Terra Incognita in Ophthalmology

The newly developed method of exophthalmometry with the use of computed tomography provides accurate and reliable data in patients with various orbital conditions including asymmetry of lateral orbital rims. Eyeball protrusion with asymmetry not exceeding 0.9 mm does not lead to functional and esthetical abnormalities and may be considered normal. The developed method is easy to setup and use, it can be applied in medical practice for diagnostics, surgery planning and evaluation of postoperative results in patients with various orbital conditions.

We compared histological structure of the orbital and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Quantitative morphometry showed that the mean diameter of adipocytes and their volume density in the orbital adipose tissue were significantly lower than in the subcutaneous fat, while volume density of vessels and elements of the connective tissue in the orbital adipose tissue was higher. Previously known and revealed here differences in the structure of orbital and subcutaneous adipose tissue do not answer the question, whether subcutaneous adipose tissue can be used for replacement of the orbital tissue deficit.