Proptosis: etiology and demographic patterns.

Objective: To determine the demographic pattern of patients presenting with proptosis and its etiology.
Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic Medical Sciences (KIOMS), Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from July 2001- December 2002.
Patients and Methods: Sixty cases of proptosis presenting at KIOMS were included. Thirtysix patients were male while 24 were female. They were divided into two age groups; 0-15 years (paediatric group) and above 15 years (adult group). An elaborate work up plan was formulated for all patients, which included detailed history, clinical examination (ocular, orbital and systemic), radiological and histopathological investigations.
Results: Neoplasms (33%) were the most common causes of proptosis in all the patients followed by orbital inflammations (23%), orbital infections (20%), structural abnormalities (12%), vascular abnormalities (7%) and trauma (5%).
Conclusion: Neoplasms were the most common cause of proptosis in both paediatric and adult group. Proptosis was the cardinal feature and visual deterioration was present in more than half of the patients. Timely referral, early diagnosis and appropriate management can result in reduction of visual morbidity.