MRI of the orbits

The orbit is the bony socket of the skull that holds the eyeball. Around the eye sit the muscles that move it, fat, the tear gland, blood vessels and the optic nerve. MRI shows all of these tissues in thin slices. There is no X-ray exposure. At Oberig Clinic we scan on a 1.5 Tesla machine, and radiologists of the Diagnostic Department read the images.

What the scan shows

An eye doctor sees the front of the eye during a regular exam. What lies behind the eyeball stays hidden without imaging. MRI fills that gap. The radiologist checks the thickness and signal of the optic nerve, the eye muscles, the fat and the tear gland. The scan also shows any mass deep in the orbit. Because MRI tells fat, muscle, nerve and fluid apart by their own signal, it can separate fresh swelling from old scarring, and an active process from a quiet one, which a plain X-ray or even CT often cannot do.

The scan also covers the optic chiasm, where the two optic nerves cross, and the nearby parts of the brain. That is why doctors usually order the orbits and optic nerves as one study. It helps find where exactly a vision problem starts.

When it is ordered

Most patients come with a referral from an ophthalmologist or a neurologist. Typical reasons:

• sudden vision loss in one eye, pain behind the eye when it moves (possible optic neuritis)
• a bulging eye (exophthalmos), including thyroid eye disease
• double vision or limited eye movement
• a suspected mass in the orbit or on the optic nerve
• swelling of the eyelids and tissues around the eye that does not settle with treatment
• an injury, when the soft tissue matters more than the bone
• follow-up after treatment or surgery

In multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis is often the very first sign. In that case the doctor may order a brain MRI at the same visit.

What it can find

The most common finding is optic nerve inflammation. The nerve looks thick, and its sheath lights up after contrast. Thyroid eye disease comes second. The eye muscles swell, the fat grows in volume and pushes the eye forward. MRI shows which muscles are involved and whether the inflammation is still active. Treatment depends on that answer. The endocrinologist and the eye doctor look at exactly these images when they pick the treatment and decide when to start it, so a clear scan saves you weeks of guessing.

Orbital masses include benign vascular tumors (cavernous hemangiomas), optic nerve sheath meningiomas, gliomas and tear gland lesions. The radiologist reports the size, the borders and how the mass relates to the nerve and muscles. Your eye doctor and surgeon need this to plan the next step. Sometimes the scan is normal. That matters too. The search then moves elsewhere, for example to the brain.

Do you need contrast?

Some questions get an answer without contrast. For nerve inflammation, masses and vascular changes, the doctor usually adds it. A gadolinium-based agent goes into a vein during the scan. It builds up in inflamed or tumor tissue, and those areas stand out on the images. You need a recent creatinine test to check your kidneys first. Reactions to gadolinium are rare, and the team keeps an eye on you for a short while after the injection, so tell us in advance if you have ever reacted to a contrast agent before.

Preparation and what to expect

No special preparation. Eat and drink as usual. One thing matters: skip eye makeup on the day of the scan. Mascara and eyeshadow can contain metal particles. They blur the images right in the orbits.

Bring your referral, the eye doctor's report and any earlier scans. A side-by-side comparison often tells the doctor more than one scan. It shows whether a mass is growing and how the nerve responded to treatment. If contrast is planned, bring your creatinine result.

Before the scan you take off metal items, contact lenses and removable dentures. You lie on your back, and your head rests in a coil. Keep still and try not to move your eyes. Even a small eye movement blurs the picture. The easiest way is to close your eyes and relax. The scanner is loud, so you get earplugs or headphones. The scan takes 20-30 minutes, a bit longer with contrast.

MRI is not safe with a pacemaker, some implants or metal fragments in the body. Tell the doctor about any eye injury from metal in the past. Even a tiny metal shaving in the eye is dangerous in the scanner. If in doubt, an X-ray or CT comes first.

FAQ

Can MRI check the retina?

The retina is too thin for the scanner. An eye doctor checks it with a fundus exam. MRI is for problems behind the eye: the nerve, the muscles or the fat.

Does it show the blood vessels of the eye?

The large orbital vessels show up on the standard scan. If a vascular mass or a widened vein is suspected, the doctor adds contrast. A separate orbital MR angiography is not on the price list.

Is the scan safe for the eyes?

Yes. The magnetic field and radio waves do not harm the eye or the optic nerve. Only metal in the body is a risk. That is why staff ask about implants and injuries before you start.

When will I get the results?

Within 24 hours, except weekends and public holidays. You get the radiologist's report and the images. The doctor who referred you explains them.

How much does it cost with contrast?

Add up two lines of the price list: the scan itself and the contrast. Both prices are below.

Price at Oberig Clinic

The total depends on one thing: contrast. The doctor decides if you need it. Contrast is paid separately.

Test	Price
Orbits, 1.5 Tesla scanner	UAH 3,870
Contrast enhancement (1.5 Tesla)	UAH 2,745

Prices are from the clinic price list as of 27.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current price with our call center.

Why choose Oberig Clinic

• Two MRI scanners (1.5 and 3 Tesla), a Siemens reference center, protocols of the American College of Radiology.
• Experienced radiologists, led by the Head of the Diagnostic Department Taras Matsiievskyi.
• An eye doctor, a neurologist, an endocrinologist and a lab in one clinic. You go from symptom to diagnosis without travelling around the city.
• Report within 24 hours.

Address: Kyiv, 3 Zoolohichna St., buildings "G" and "V". Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.