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proptosis

proptosis

9.9
A forward bulging of the eye out of its socket
  • noun
  • /prɒpˈtoʊsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : proptosis
  • During the consultation, the doctor noted that the patient exhibited proptosis, with the left eye bulging significantly from its socket.
  • mild proptosis
  • proptosis and ophthalmoplegia

Examples

  • Physical examination demonstrated mild left proptosis; findings on the remainder of the eye examination were normal.

    Academic text (2009)
  • On physical examination, the boy was found to have mild right-sided proptosis and a visible expansion of the dorsum of the nose.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In addition to proptosis, our patient developed all of these signs and symptoms at about the same time.

    Academic text (2004)
  • His proptosis had decreased, but there was no change in his ophthalmoplegia.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Orbital abscess (stage IV) is associated with severe proptosis and complete ophthalmoplegia (figure 3).

    Academic text (2002)
  • Within a few days, the patient's fever, orbital cellulitis, proptosis, and palatal necrosis had almost resolved.

    Academic text (2004)
  • A 70-year-old man was referred to us from a regional community hospital for evaluation of generalized sepsis, proptosis, and ophthalmoplegia in the left eye.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Patients may also show signs of infiltration, such as proptosis, blurred vision, and cranial nerve palsies secondary to orbital or skull base extension.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The two patients had a similar course: protracted disease for more than six months with proptosis, vision changes, and late neurologic symptoms reflecting cavernous sinus invasion.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Physical examination revealed left-sided proptosis with periorbital edema, erythema, and a left-sided cranial nerve VI palsy.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

exophthalmos
vsproptosis
  • Specialized
9.9

A condition in which an eye sticks out from its socket because of disease

is any abnormal forward bulging or displacement regardless of cause

Antonyms

enophthalmos
  • Specialized
9.9

An eyeball that sits too far back in the eye socket

Surface Forms

proptosis singular
proptoses plural

Morphology

proptosis = ptosis (opaque) = pro + ptosis

Although analyzable as 'pro-' + 'ptosis', the term is medical and its exact meaning ('forward bulging') is not transparently deducible from general English knowledge and differs from the common sense of 'ptosis'.

Etymology

Proptosis comes from two parts: pro- 'forward' and -ptosis 'falling' or 'drooping'. Think of the eye 'falling forward', which helps you remember that proptosis means the eye bulges or moves out of its socket.