E.R. gross-out of the week: Eye Popping

I love E.R. I think the show continues to break new ground in terms of unique storytelling.

Sometimes, however, I think they throw in certain gross-out moments just to see what they can get away with.

This past week, a man is in the midst of an eye exam when he has a coughing fit. He doubles over in pain and comes up with… his left eye bulging from its socket.

I’ve seen something like that before. Remember that woman from Letterman’s Stupid Human Tricks? She also made an appearance on Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
Yes, Kimberly Goodman has the ability to bulge her eyes at will.

So over on E.R., the guy is screaming, “Did my eye just come out?!” and the doctors are trying not to freak out. Luca comes over, asks for a paper clip, and proceeds to work the man’s eye back into place. I’m serious. A paper clip. Like MacGuyver.

Kudos to the make-up people, because this was the most disturbing effect on the show so far this season. I had to pick my feet up off the floor, it was so squirm-worthy.

But, in true exploitation fashion, the event didn’t really have anything to do with the plot of the episode. And more importantly (this was really frustrating) they didn’t explain why this eye-popping occurred and how to avoid it in my own life.

So I’m left to do the research myself.

According to StraightDope.com, Exophthalmos is the protrusion of the eye from the orbit, or socket. It can be caused by excessive coughing or vomiting. Those of African descent (as the actor on E.R. was) are said to be more vulnerable.

Nothing is mentioned about prevention, unfortunately. I wonder if taping my eyelids shut would help if I happen to suffer from strenuous coughing?

Coincidentally, over on Bravo that same night, Project Greenlight featured a scene in which a character’s eye was gouged out by a monster. There were long, lingering shots of the optic nerve (fake of course) being pulled from the man’s head. That didn’t disturb me at all, though. There’s something about medical “reality” that gets to me in ways that horror movies don’t.