Orbital fractures, believe it or not, are fractures that occur within the confines of the orbital bones that surround and protect the eyeballs.
Orbital fractures can occur through the walls of the orbit, deep to the orbital rims.
And, orbital fractures can damage the contents of the orbit such as the eyeball, the muscles that allow the eyeballs to look around, and the optic nerve that allows for vision. This is not an easy, straight forward question. If a fracture of the rim of the orbit leads to gross cosmetic changes, srgery can be performed if desired by the patient. If the inner or outer walls of the orbit have been fractured and this results in a change in the position of the eyelids, surgery should be performed. Most fractures are approached through an incision in the lower eyelid.