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Primary varicose veins
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Primary varicose veins consist of weakened segments of the venous system of the orbit of varying length and complexity. Participating in the bloodstream, varicose veins increase with increasing venous pressure. Their elastic properties depend on the residual thickness and elasticity of the walls. In most cases, the disease is one-sided and is located in the upper-nerve department. CT and plane radiographs show phlebolitis in 20% of cases. The age of the initial manifestations is in the range from childhood to late middle.
[Symptoms of primary orbital varicose veins
- Intermittent exophthalmos without external signs. Exophthalmos are not pulsating and without accompanying noise. Since the veins of the orbit do not contain valves, reversible exophthalmos can rapidly decay or increase with increasing venous pressure during coughing, stress, Valsalva test, in forced position of the body or external compression of the jugular veins. With prolonged illness, atrophy of the surrounding fatty tissue and anophthalmus can develop with a deepening of the upper palpebral-orbital fold visible in the prone position and returning to normal with an increase in venous pressure;
- the visible changes of the eyelids are especially conjunctival, which increases with the Valsalva test;
- a combination of visible changes and exophthalmos (most often).
Complications of primary varicose veins occur in the form of acute hemorrhage and thrombosis.
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Treatment of primary orbital varicose veins
Treatment of primary orbital varicose by surgical removal is technically difficult due to the fragility of formation and bleeding. Indications are recurrent thromboses, pain expressed exophthalmos and the glory of the optic nerve.