What is a potential cause of enophthalmos?

Enophthalmos is the clinical condition characterized by the sinking of the eyeball into the orbit, which can result from several factors that affect the position and support of the eye. Dehydration can lead to enophthalmos because it causes a decrease in the overall volume and fluid content within the body, which may affect the fat and connective tissue around the eye. When the body is dehydrated, orbital fat can decrease, resulting in the eye appearing to sink back into the orbit.

On the other hand, infection, glaucoma, and allergic reactions may cause other changes in the eye or surrounding tissue, such as inflammation or increased intraocular pressure, but they are not directly linked to the loss of orbital volume that is typically associated with dehydration. Therefore, dehydration is recognized as a potential cause of enophthalmos due to its impact on the supportive structures around the eye.