Balanced orbital decompression in Graves' orbitopathy

Abstract

Graves' ophthalmopathy is an inflammatory disease of the orbital tissues that especially affects extraocular muscles and fat. Orbital decompression is performed to reverse compressive neuropathy and reduce proptosis. The most widely used technique is the inferomedial orbital decompression, which may provide an insufficient decompression in patients with serious proptosis. A balanced decompression of the medial and lateral orbital walls provides >5 mm of proptosis reduction with a low occurrence of postoperative diplopia.