Effect of prior orbital decompression on outcome of strabismus surgery in patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare strabismus surgery outcomes of patients who have had prior orbital decompression for thyroid ophthalmopathy with those of patients who have not had decompression. METHODS: The records of all patients operated on by the author for strabismus related to thyroid ophthalmopathy were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included in this study. Seventeen patients had previously undergone orbital decompression, and 33 patients had not. Seventy-six percent of patients who had had orbital decompression had a good or excellent outcome compared with 91% of those who had not had orbital decompression. Patients in the orbital decompression group had an average of 1.4 operations compared with 1.2 in the no-decompression group. The average numbers of muscles operated on were 3.1 in the decompression group and 1.9 in the no-decompression group. Patients who had been decompressed were more than 4 times as likely to require surgery for both a horizontal and vertical deviation than patients who had not been decompressed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy who have had orbital decompression have a lower success rate of surgery for strabismus, more frequently need correction for both horizontal and vertical deviations, and have more muscles operated on than patients who have not had orbital decompression. The need for orbital decompression in patients with Graves' disease is reflective of a worse degree of orbitopathy. In addition, ocular changes from decompression surgery may interfere with a successful result from strabismus surgery.     

Correction of restricted extraocular muscle motility in surgical management of strabismus in graves' ophthalmopathy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the success rates for strabismus surgery designed to correct limitation of duction with surgery designed to correct deviation in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. DESIGN: Retrospective nonrandomized comparative trial. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-seven patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy who had undergone at least one extraocular muscle surgery were divided into two groups: those whose first surgery occurred before June 1997 (control group) and those whose first surgery occurred in June 1997 or thereafter (case group). INTERVENTIONS: Extraocular muscle surgery primarily directed at either correcting deviation (control group) or correcting limitation of ductions (case group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative deviations in the primary position were measured in prism diopters 30 to 180 days after surgery. A postoperative deviation of less than 5 diopters was considered a successful surgical outcome. RESULTS: Patients undergoing strabismus surgery specifically designed to correct limitation of duction achieved a 74% success rate compared with a 44% success rate in the control group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the rate of reoperation in this group was only 27% compared with 44% in the control group (P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with surgery aimed primarily at the correction of deviation, extraocular muscle surgery tailored to address restriction of ductions in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy is associated with improved surgical success of initial realignment and with a lower rate of reoperation     

Deep lateral wall orbital decompression following strabismus surgery in patients with Type II ophthalmic Graves’ disease

Purpose: Surgical management of ophthalmic Graves’ disease traditionally involves, in order, orbital decompression, followed by strabismus surgery and eyelid surgery. Nunery et al. previously described two distinct sub-types of patients with ophthalmic Graves’ disease; Type I patients exhibit no restrictive myopathy (no diplopia) as opposed to Type II patients who do exhibit restrictive myopathy (diplopia) and are far more likely to develop new-onset worsening diplopia following medial wall and floor decompression. Strabismus surgery involving extra-ocular muscle recession has, in turn, been shown to potentially worsen proptosis. Our experience with Type II patients who have already undergone medial wall and floor decompression and strabismus surgery found, when additional decompression is necessary, deep lateral wall decompression (DLWD) appears to have a low rate of post-operative primary-gaze diplopia.

Methods: A case series of four Type II ophthalmic Graves’ disease patients, all of whom had already undergone decompression and strabismus surgery, and went on to develop worsening proptosis or optic nerve compression necessitating further decompression thereafter. In all cases, patients were treated with DLWD. Institutional Review Board approval was granted by the University of Kansas.

Results: None of the four patients treated with this approach developed recurrent primary-gaze diplopia or required strabismus surgery following DLWD.

Conclusions: While we still prefer to perform medial wall and floor decompression as the initial treatment for ophthalmic Graves’ disease, for proptosis following consecutive strabismus surgery, DLWD appears to be effective with a low rate of recurrent primary-gaze diplopia.     

Strabismus following endoscopic orbital decompression for thyroid eye disease

Endoscopic orbital decompression may be used to treat disfiguring proptosis or sight threatening optic nerve compression in patients with thyroid eye disease. Strabismus is common in thyroid eye disease and frequently follows decompression surgery. We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing endoscopic decompression for thyroid eye disease, by a single surgeon, from 1994 to 2000. Twenty-three patients (21 female, 2 male) were identified with a mean age of 47.5 years. At presentation, 21 patients had proptosis, 8 optic nerve compression (2 without proptosis) and 11 strabismus (9 complained of diplopia) with a mean BSV score of 24.5 before decompression. Forty orbits were decompressed with a mean decrease in proptosis of 3.3mm. Following decompression, the mean BSV score was 25, and 17 patients had manifest strabismus in primary gaze (3 at near only) of whom 10 had pre-existing strabismus. Five patients had new diplopia (22%). Eleven patients ultimately required strabismus surgery of whom 8 had manifest strabismus before decompression. Following strabismus surgery, the mean BSV score was 37. The final BSV score for those not requiring strabismus surgery was 29. Mean follow-up was 28 months. Endoscopic orbital decompression can effectively treat disfiguring proptosis. Diplopia is a common complication, but pre-existing diplopia may improve.     

Intraocular pressure changes after treatment for Graves' orbitopathy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) in subjects with Graves' orbitopathy (GO) after orbital decompression, strabismus surgery, and orbital radiation. DESIGN: Retrospective case review. METHODS: The charts of 172 consecutive subjects from the Neuro-ophthalmology Service at Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) with GO who underwent either orbital decompression, strabismus surgery, or orbital radiation between 1994 and 1999 were analyzed. Subject age, gender, diagnosis of glaucoma in either eye, use of systemic steroids or topical glaucoma medications, procedure performed, and the preoperative and postoperative IOP (in primary position and upgaze) were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 116 eyes that underwent orbital decompression, the mean preoperative IOP was 21.6+/-4.6 mmHg (standard deviation) in primary position and 27.9+/-6.8 mmHg in upgaze. The postoperative IOP was 17.5 mmHg +/- 3.0 mmHg in primary position and 20.1+/-4.7 mmHg in upgaze, a decrease in IOP of 18.9% in primary position and 27.9% in upgaze (P<0.001). Subjects taking glaucoma medication or who had IOP greater than 21 mmHg demonstrated a significantly (P<0.001) greater reduction in IOP postoperatively. The mean preoperative IOP in the 32 subjects who had strabismus surgery was 18.5+/-2.8 mmHg (primary position), and 24.7+/-4.3 mmHg (upgaze). Postoperative IOP was 16.1 mmHg (primary position) and 16.9 mmHg (upgaze), a decrease of 2.4 mmHg (13.3%, P<0.01 in primary position) and 7.8 mmHg (31.2%, P<0.01 in upgaze). There was no statistically significant reduction in IOP after orbital radiation. CONCLUSIONS: In the selected subgroup of subjects with GO who required intervention, orbital decompression and strabismus surgery resulted in a significant reduction in IOP in the early postoperative period, especially in subjects with preoperative IOP greater than 21 mmHg.     

【In Press】 Clinical features of strabismus and nystagmus in bilateral congenital cataracts

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical features, and the factors affecting onset of strabismus and nystagmus in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts. METHODS: This study evaluated 116 eyes of 58 patients who underwent lens removal for the treatment of bilateral congenital cataracts between January 1999 and January 2011. The presence and type of strabismus and nystagmus were determined before and after surgery. Type of strabismus and final visual acuity were compared in patients with and without nystagmus. Patients were divided into three groups (orthotropia/orthotropia, orthotropia/strabismus, and strabismus/strabismus) according to their preoperative and postoperative ocular alignment. Age at cataract surgery and associations of nystagmus and primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with strabismus were analyzed. RESULTS: Six patients (10.3%) had strabismus preoperatively and an additional 11 (19.0%) developed postoperative strabismus. Exotropia was more common than esotropia both preoperatively and postoperatively. Eighteen patients (31.0%) had postoperative nystagmus, with sensory nystagmus being the most common type. Of the 18 patients with nystagmus, 10 had strabismus, with exotropia being more common than esotropia. Postoperative visual acuity was poor in patients with nystagmus. Age at cataract surgery and rate of primary IOL implantation were significantly lower, and postoperative nystagmus was more common, in the orthotropia/strabismus group than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Exotropia and sensory nystagmus are common in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts. Age at cataract surgery and rate of IOL implantation were lower and nystagmus more common in patients with postoperative onset of strabismus. Nystagmus was associated with poor visual prognosis.     

Clinical features of strabismus and nystagmus in bilateral congenital cataracts

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical features, and the factors affecting onset of strabismus and nystagmus in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts. METHODS: This study evaluated 116 eyes of 58 patients who underwent lens removal for the treatment of bilateral congenital cataracts between January 1999 and January 2011. The presence and type of strabismus and nystagmus were determined before and after surgery. Type of strabismus and final visual acuity were compared in patients with and without nystagmus. Patients were divided into three groups (orthotropia/orthotropia, orthotropia/strabismus, and strabismus/strabismus) according to their preoperative and postoperative ocular alignment. Age at cataract surgery and associations of nystagmus and primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with strabismus were analyzed. RESULTS: Six patients (10.3%) had strabismus preoperatively and an additional 11 (19.0%) developed postoperative strabismus. Exotropia was more common than esotropia both preoperatively and postoperatively. Eighteen patients (31.0%) had postoperative nystagmus, with sensory nystagmus being the most common type. Of the 18 patients with nystagmus, 10 had strabismus, with exotropia being more common than esotropia. Postoperative visual acuity was poor in patients with nystagmus. Age at cataract surgery and rate of primary IOL implantation were significantly lower, and postoperative nystagmus was more common, in the orthotropia/strabismus group than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Exotropia and sensory nystagmus are common in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts. Age at cataract surgery and rate of IOL implantation are lower and nystagmus more common in patients with postoperative onset of strabismus. Nystagmus is associated with poor visual prognosis.     

Results of transantral orbital decompression in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE: To present the results of orbital decompression in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). METHODS: Transantral orbital decompression was performed in 63 patients with TAO. In 40 patients (63%) the operation was made because of progressive ophthalmopathy not responding to medical therapy, and in 23 patients (37%) the operation was made for rehabilitative reasons. The long-term hypesthesia engaging the infraorbital nerve was assessed with a questionnaire using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: The mean proptosis reduction was 3.2 mm (range 0-8 mm). Twenty-one patients had impaired visual acuity preoperatively, and 20 improved. Altogether 30 patients (40%) had worsened ocular motility postoperatively. Forty-three patients did not have diplopia in the primary position preoperatively, and new diplopia developed in 22 of these (51%). Hypesthesia in the infraorbital nerve area was reported for half of the operated sides, but was a major cause of distress (VAS-scoring >5) to eleven patients. CONCLUSIONS: Transantral orbital decompression is indicated in patients with progressive TAO or in patients with prominent exophthalmos, and results in a good proptosis reduction, but the risk of postoperative diplopia is significant. Postoperative hypesthesia is common but often not a major problem.     

甲状腺相关眼病手术治疗前后的眼压变化

目的 评估甲状腺相关眼病(Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy,TAO)患者行眶减压术或斜视矫正术治疗前后眼压的变化.方法 对象为在2008年12月至2009年12月确诊为TAO,并行眶减压或斜视矫正术患者25例(35只眼),比较患者术前、术后的第一眼位眼压(平视)和第二眼位眼压(上视).结果 行眶减压术16只眼,术前平均眼压为:第一眼位,(17.86±4.32)mmHg,第二眼位(23.55±7.16)mmHg.术后平均眼压为:第一眼位(14.57±3.86)mmHg,下降18.42%,P＜0.05,第二跟位(18.77±4.83)mmHg,下降20.3%,P＜0.04;行斜视矫正术19只眼,术前平均眼压为:第一眼位,(17.89±3.85)mmHg,第二眼位(23.12±6.98)mmHg,术后平均眼压为:第一眼位(15.85±3.60)mmHg,下降11.4,P＜0.05,第二眼位:(17.88±3.59)mmHg,下降19.17%,P＜0.03,其中术前眼压＞21mmHg诊断为高眼压症和诊断为青光眼的患者术后眼压下降的更加明显.结论 TAO患者行眶减压术或斜视矫正术后眼压均有明显下降.     

眼眶病源性斜视误诊分析

目的探讨由眼眶病引起的斜视和复视的临床病例误诊原因,以提高临床诊治水平。方法分析作者自2004年1月到2004年12月在临床医疗中遇到的7例由眼眶病引起的斜视误诊典型病例。结果在眼眶病变中,甲状腺相关眼病、肌炎型眼眶特发性炎性假瘤、眼眶骨折、颈内动脉海绵窦瘘、鼻窦炎侵犯眼眶、眼眶肿瘤等均可引起斜视和复视。其中尤其是甲状腺相关眼病引起的斜视最常见,甲状腺功能正常的患者容易引起误诊。结论:后天性斜视中,眼眶病源性病变引起者临床上并不少见,值得临床医生重视。影像学检查对减少误诊有重要意义。     

部分直肌转位治疗单条直肌完全麻痹斜视的疗效分析

目的：分析部分直肌转位术治疗单条直肌完全麻痹性斜视的临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析22例25眼单条直肌完全麻痹性斜视患者行部分直肌转位术,手术前后眼位、复视、代偿头位及眼球运动情况。随访6 mo。结果：根据22例25眼患者的术前、术中检查结果,采用不同的术式组合：单纯部分直肌转位术2眼,麻痹肌的拮抗肌后退及部分直肌转位术20眼,麻痹肌的拮抗肌后退、部分直肌转位并对侧眼配偶肌后退术3眼。术后20例第一眼位完全正位,代偿头位及复视均消除,2例双眼外直肌麻痹患者轻度欠矫,分别配戴8△、10△三棱镜后复视及代偿头位均消失。斜视度术前100．23△±42．61△,术后0.82△±2．67△（ t＝10．797,P＜0．001）。眼球运动评分术前－4．52±0．51分,术后－2．68±0．63分（t＝－19．468,P＜0.001）。结论：部分直肌转位术治疗单条直肌完全麻痹性斜视能有效矫正第一眼位的斜视、复视,消除代偿头位,改善眼球运动,获得满意的临床效果。     

Adjustable-suture strabismus surgery: a review of 255 consecutive cases

Adjustable-suture strabismus surgery was performed on 255 patients under general anesthesia. Prophylactic topical and oral antibiotic therapy was used in all cases; only one postoperative infection occurred. Adjustments were needed for 123 patients and were done under topical tetracaine anesthesia within a few hours after recovery from general anesthesia. Overall the adjustments appeared to be reliable. The use of droperidol, however, made reliable adjustment impossible in two cases and is therefore strongly contraindicated if suture adjustment is to be done within a few hours of general anesthesia. There were two cases of temporary palsy of the muscle with the adjustable suture, presumed to be due to the topical anesthetic. Unexpectedly large effects of the surgery occurred in three cases of acquired sixth cranial nerve palsy in which full abduction had been recovered but a concomitant esotropia remained and in a few cases in which the muscles had previously been resected and there were normal active ductions preoperatively. Contraindications to the use of adjustable sutures in strabismus surgery may include multiple orbital fractures, previous orbital floor decompression for dysthyroid ophthalmopathy, and a variable angle.     

Isolated Caruncular Approach for Orbital Decompression

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of the isolated caruncular approach to orbital decompression of thyroid ophthalmopathy.Methods In a retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series, we reviewed the records of 29 patients (48 orbits) who had thyroid ophthalmopathy and had undergone orbital decompression using the caruncular approach. The medial wall was decompressed in two patients (three orbits), and the medial and inferior walls were decompressed in 27 patients (45 orbits).Results The mean retrodisplacement achieved was 2.7mm of decompression of the medial wall, and 4.2mm of decompression of the medial and inferior walls. Diplopia arose in the primary position in 4 of 17 previously asymptomatic patients. Persistent postdecompression strabismus was managed successfully with adjustable strabismus surgery. Other complications were minimal, including a hypertrophic scar in one eye and a pyogenic granuloma in another.Conclusions Orbital decompression using the isolated caruncular approach offers rapid access to the medial and inferior orbital walls and makes graded decompression possible in each case. It is a useful approach for patients wishing surgery for cosmetic purposes and for those with compressive optic neuropathy as well. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:397–403 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2004     

Superior oblique muscle involvement in thyroid ophthalmopathy.

BACKGROUND: Rectus muscle involvement in thyroid ophthalmopathy is well documented. The inferior rectus is the most frequently involved, followed by the medial, superior, and infrequently the lateral rectus. This study reports involvement of the superior oblique muscle as a contributory cause of restrictive strabismus in patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of four patients with known thyroid ophthalmopathy who presented with incomitant vertical strabismus, A-pattern, overdepression in adduction, underelevation in adduction, and incyclotorsion. All patients underwent preoperative orbital imaging. Two of the four patients had previous orbital decompressions. All patients underwent surgery on the SO muscle. RESULTS: Preoperative scans showed enlargement of one or both SO muscles in all patients and intraoperative forced duction testing revealed restriction to elevation in adduction in all cases. Preoperative A-pattern ranged from to 6 to 22 prism diopters. All subjects had preoperative incyclotorsion, ranging from 2 and 14 degrees. Improvement of the versions, hypertropia, and cyclotorsion followed surgical weakening procedures on the SO muscle. CONCLUSION: Thyroid ophthalmopathy may involve the SO muscle. Clinical manifestations include preoperative A-pattern strabismus, incyclotorsion, and restrictive limitation to elevation in adduction. Orbital imaging documents SO muscle enlargement. Awareness of SO involvement in thyroid ophthalmopathy assists the surgeon to develop a more precise surgical strategy to correct the hypotropia.     

Strabismus after balanced medial plus lateral wall versus lateral wall only orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the relative incidence and time course of new-onset strabismus after balanced medial plus lateral wall orbital decompression versus decompression of the lateral wall alone for dysthyroid orbitopathy. METHODS: The study design was a retrospective nonrandomized comparative case series. Thirty-two consecutive patients underwent balanced medial plus lateral wall orbital decompression or lateral wall orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy. The incidence, duration, and treatment of postoperative strabismus was recorded for each patient. RESULTS: Significant preoperative strabismus was present in 31% (4/13 patients) of the balanced decompression group and in 26% (5/19 patients) of the lateral wall decompression group. Only 25% (1/4) of cases of preexisting strabismus in the balanced decompression group resolved postoperatively without muscle surgery, whereas 60% (3/5) of cases in the lateral wall decompression group resolved postoperatively without surgery. Preoperative strabismus was absent in 69% (9/13) of patients in the balanced decompression group and in 74% (14/19) of patients in the lateral wall decompression group. New-onset, persistent postoperative strabismus developed in 33% (3/9) of patients in the balanced decompression group and in 7% (1/14) of patients in the lateral wall decompression group. CONCLUSION: Lateral wall orbital decompression may produce less new-onset, persistent postoperative strabismus than balanced medial plus lateral wall orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy.     

Customized Orbital Decompression Surgery Combined with Eyelid Surgery or Strabismus Surgery in Mild to Moderate Thyroid-associated Ophthalmopathy

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of customized orbital decompression surgery combined with eyelid surgery or strabismus surgery for mild to moderate thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Methods

Twenty-seven consecutive subjects who were treated surgically for proptosis with disfigurement or diplopia after medical therapy from September 2009 to July 2012 were included in the analysis. Customized orbital decompression surgery with correction of eyelid retraction and extraocular movement disorders was simultaneously performed. The patients had a minimum preoperative period of 3 months of stable range of ocular motility and eyelid position. All patients had inactive TAO and were euthyroid at the time of operation. Preoperative and postoperative examinations, including vision, margin reflex distance, Hertel exophthalmometry, ocular motility, visual fields, Goldmann perimetry, and subject assessment of the procedure, were performed in all patients. Data were analyzed using paired t-test (PASW Statistics ver. 18.0).

Results

Forty-nine decompressions were performed on 27 subjects (16 females, 11 males; mean age, 36.6 ± 11.6 years). Twenty-two patients underwent bilateral operations; five required only unilateral orbital decompression. An average proptosis of 15.6 ± 2.2 mm (p = 0.00) was achieved, with a mean preoperative Hertel measurement of 17.6 ± 2.2 mm. Ocular motility was corrected through recession of the extraocular muscle in three cases, and no new-onset diplopia or aggravated diplopia was noted. The binocular single vision field increased in all patients. Eyelid retraction correction surgery was simultaneously performed in the same surgical session in 10 of 49 cases, and strabismus and eyelid retraction surgery were performed in the same surgical session in two cases. Margin reflex distance decreased from a preoperative average of 4.3 ± 0.8 to 3.8 ± 0.5 mm postoperatively.

Conclusions

The customized orbital decompression procedure decreased proptosis and improved diplopia, in a range comparable to those achieved through more stepwise techniques, and had favorable cosmetic results when combined with eyelid surgery or strabismus surgery for mild to moderate TAO.     

A simplified approach to the treatment of Duane's syndrome

INTRODUCTION: To report the results of a large series of patients undergoing treatment for Duane's syndrome. METHODS: Patients with Duane's syndrome undergoing strabismus surgery of a horizontal muscle recession procedure, medial rectus recession for an esodeviation or lateral rectus recession for an exodeviation, in order to correct an abnormal head position (AHP) and a significant tropia in primary position were identified. Amount of recession varied with the angle of deviation in forced primary position, versions and ductions, and intraoperative forced ductions. Elimination of AHP was used as a criterion for success. RESULTS: Fifty nine patients were treated with either unilateral or bilateral medial or lateral rectus recession. Mean follow up was 3.1 years. Ninety three percent achieved a postoperative alignment of < or =15 degrees AHP, 66% achieved < or =5 degrees AHP. Only three patients, two from the unilateral Type II group and one from the bilateral combined Types I and II group, went on to have a second procedure for a noticeable residual AHP. CONCLUSIONS: Success (good to excellent results) of horizontal muscle recession was achieved in 93% of patients. Unilateral or bilateral horizontal rectus muscle recession offers a simple and effective surgical option for eliminating AHP and is our treatment of choice in patients with Duane's syndrome.     

Orbital decompression surgery for the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy: comparison of different techniques and long-term results

AIM: To evaluate the long-term results of different orbital decompression techniques performed in patients with Graves'' ophthalmopathy (GO). METHODS: Totally 170 cases with GO underwent orbital decompression between 1994 and 2014. Patients were divided into 4 groups as medial-inferior, medial-lateral (balanced), medial-lateral-inferior, and lateral only according to the applied surgical technique. Surgical indications, regression degrees on Hertel exophthalmometer, new-onset diplopia in the primary gaze and new-onset gaze-evoked diplopia after surgery and visual acuity in cases with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) were compared between different surgical techniques. RESULTS: The study included 248 eyes of 149 patients. The mean age for surgery was 42.3±13.2y. DON was the surgical indication in 36.6% of cases, and three-wall decompression was the most preferred technique in these cases. All types of surgery significantly decrease the Hertel values (P<0.005). Balanced medial-lateral, and only lateral wall decompression caused the lowest rate of postoperative new-onset diplopia in primary gaze. The improvement of visual acuity in patients with DON did not significantly differ between the groups (P=0.181). CONCLUSION: The study show that orbital decompression surgery has safe and effective long term results for functional and cosmetic rehabilitation of GO. It significantly reduces Hertel measurements in disfiguring proptosis and improves visual functions especially in DON cases.     

Selected papers from the 17th meeting of the European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

There are numerous reports of the short-term efficacy of orbital decompression for thyroid orbitopathy, but few studies have documented the long-term results of surgery. The authors retrospectively reviewed their long-term (mean time, 43.34 months) follow-up of 44 eyes in 23 patients who underwent orbital decompression for reduction of proptosis (Group 1: 36 eyes) or compressive optic neuropathy (Group 2: 8 eyes) at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. No patient in this series experienced worsening of visual sensory function from surgery. Five of seven (71%) eyes in group 2 improved after decompression and a sixth eye recovered acuity after orbital irradiation. Postoperative worsening of ocular alignment occurred in 52% of patients and may be more likely to occur in patients who have preoperative generalized limitation of extraocular movement with or without preoperative misalignment in the primary position. Postoperative results at final examination 12 months or longer after surgery, both with respect to reduction of proptosis and improvement in visual sensory function, were either unchanged or further improved compared with findings three to six months after surgery.