Step 1 - Dissection of the Orbit

You are expected to dissect the orbit on one side via a dorsal approach through the orbital plate of the frontal bone located in the anterior cranial fossa and on the other side via an anterior approach (see Step 3) from the front of the face. Thus, both eyes are dissected!

Dorsal Approach. 

1. Strip the dura away from the base of the anterior cranial fossa on one side.
   NOTE: The most difficult part of the dissection is to avoid the medial wall of the orbit where the ethmoid branches of the nasocilliary nerve and ophthalmic artery enter the ethmoid bone.  The anterior ethmoid vessels and nerve will be easier to preserve if you can avoid breaking into the ethmoid regions medially.

2. Carefully chisel away the orbital plate of the frontal bone and open the periorbita to expose the frontal nerve and the underlying palpebrae superioris muscle as seen in this dissection. Bisect this muscle and the underlying superior rectus muscle and reflect the cut ends anteriorly and posteriorly to expose deeper structures. Now clean the fat from the orbit.
   NOTE: The hardest part of this dissection is removing the fat, so do it gently and carefully to avoid damaging the delicate nerves, vessels and muscles.