In a freak accident during warmups on Sunday, Colts backup QB Anthony Richardson fractured his orbit when an exercise band snapped him in the eye.

Anatomy

The orbit is the eye socket, with thicker bones forming the rim around the eyes and thin bones forming the deeper part of the socket. There are a few holes in the socket that nerves pass through, including the optic nerve that sends visual information from the eyes to the brain. Fractures to the rim of the socket are usually caused by direct impact to the bone, whereas fractures deeper in the socket are caused by blunt force trauma to the eye that pushes backwards putting pressure on the thin bones. The pressure buildup in the eye causes what’s known as a blowout fracture, where the thin bones of the socket burst back.

Symptoms of orbital fractures may include blurred or double vision, bruising around the eye, pain or numbness around the eye and difficulty with eye movement. The significant risks of orbital fractures depend on the location of the fracture and how much it may be displaced. Displaced fractures may cause more damage to the tissues in and around the socket, possibly including the eye itself, the muscles controlling eye movement, or the optic nerve.

Treatment

Treatment for orbital fractures may include conservative management to decrease the swelling and pressure with anti-inflammatories, or possible surgery in severe cases where bone displacement may cause damage to other tissues. Surgical treatment may also be needed in cases where the injury causes a sunken looking eye or other aesthetic damage. Recovery time for orbital fractures ranges from weeks to months depending on severity and treatment decisions and the doctors managing Richardsons injury will want to ensure everything is fully healed before he is cleared for any possible contact.

While the exact nature and severity of Richardson’s injury isn’t known at this time, we wish him a speedy recovery and hope for no long term symptoms.