The superior orbital fissure is a foramen or cleft of the skull between the lesser and greater wings of the sphenoid bone.

The superior orbital fissure is usually 22 mm wide in adults,[1] and is much larger medially.

[citation needed] The abducens nerve is most likely to show signs of damage first, with the most common complaints retro-orbital pain and the involvement of cranial nerves III, IV, V1, and VI without other neurological signs or symptoms.

Involvement of the cranial nerves that pass through the superior orbital fissure may lead to diplopia, paralysis of extraocular muscles, exophthalmos, and ptosis.

Blindness or loss of vision indicates involvement of the orbital apex, which is more serious, requiring urgent surgical intervention.