Posterior Globe Angle

Posterior globe angle in practice

The posterior globe angle provides an objective way to describe the degree of globe tenting/tethering and is often used as a severity marker on CT.

Key thresholds to remember

• <130°: supports the diagnosis of globe tenting.
• 120–130°: tends to align with mild symptoms and good recovery.
• <120° + acute proptosis: treat as urgent; delayed decompression may risk incomplete visual recovery.

How it relates to symptoms

Progressive narrowing can be accompanied by increasing proptosis and optic nerve stretching. Visual impairment severity may increase as tenting progresses.

Communicating urgency

If you report severe tenting in an acute clinical scenario, consider explicitly recommending urgent ophthalmology/ENT/neurosurgery evaluation depending on local pathways.

Note: This site is for education and does not replace clinical judgement. If acute proptosis or vision loss is suspected, seek urgent specialist care.