"In general there are two types of fractures that involve the orbital bone that contains the eye, a rim fracture and a blowout fracture. The potential complications are eye related. We don't know which one Joel has. A rim fracture involves a stronger bone, and a blowout involves a thin bone that is easier to fracture. But the blowout is the more serious of the two because it has the potential for more complications if not fixed. My guess would be that Joel's is a blowout fracture, but that's just a guess. If the blowout fracture is not treated it can affect vision, and muscle can get caught in bony fragments and affect movement. Additionally, fat around eye can get caught in the bony fragments and can cause pain or cosmetically cause the eye to look like it is down in socket."