Yep, absolutely a thing. Those extreme brachycephalic (squished) faces and large, round eyes mean they have pretty shallow eye sockets compared to many other breeds, so they're prone to eye trauma, including proptosis (the technical veterinary/medical term for an eye bulging/popping out of the socket).
Pugs aren't my thing, personally, but if I were looking for one, I'd try to find a breeder with very moderate looking adults, with smaller, more oval eyes that don't have that buggy or bulging look to them. And preferably have a bit more nose and wider nostrils than your average pug. It's also one of the reasons pugs should be walked on harnesses only; collars have been scientifically proven to increase eyeball pressure. They also have smaller than average airways, so keeping pressure off the neck is a must. And keeping them at a healthy weight, which will help many of the problems they're prone to due to their physiology.
I'd also prioritize early handling and cooperative care for things like vet visits and nail trims, which reduces the chance of eye trauma due to the dog having to be physically restrained for these procedures, since again, something like scruffing can increase the risk of proptosis.
It's not something that's going to happen to every dog, but it's definitely a real thing and a concern with the breed.
