Exophthalmos (also called
exophthalmus,
exophthalmia,
proptosis, or
exorbitism) is a bulging of the
eye anteriorly out of the
orbit. Exophthalmos can be either bilateral (as is often seen in
Graves' disease) or unilateral (as is often seen in an orbital tumor). Complete or partial dislocation from the orbit is also possible from trauma or swelling of surrounding tissue resulting from trauma.