An orbital bruit may be caused by a number of conditions.
Criteria for diagnosis: bruit (noise) heard with the stethoscope placed over the orbit
Conditions associated with bilateral orbital bruit:
(1) hyperthyroidism
(2) severe anemia
Conditions associated with unilateral orbital bruit:
(1) fistula between the carotid artery and cavernous sinus
(2) aneurysmal angioma of the orbit or fundus
(3) arteriovenous fistula within the orbit
(4) pulsating exophthalmos
(5) stenosis of the carotid artery (sclerosis, thrombosis, compression, etc)
