Abstract
ObjectiveTo compare horizontal eye positions between proptotic thyroid eye disease patients and normal individuals, and to examine positional changes after orbital decompression surgery in thyroid eye disease patients.MethodsThe present case-controlled and retrospective comparative study included 78 proptotic thyroid eye disease patients who underwent bilateral orbital decompression surgery [lateral orbital wall decompression (Group L), 47 patients; medial orbital wall decompression (Group M), 9 patients; and balanced orbital decompression (Group B), 22 patients] and 143 age-matched healthy volunteers as controls. The interpupillary distance was measured to determine horizontal eye positions before and 3 months after surgery in thyroid eye disease patients and was also examined in control eyes. Horizontal eye shifts were calculated by subtracting postoperative from preoperative interpupillary distances.ResultsPreoperative interpupillary distances in thyroid eye disease patients were significantly larger than in controls. The interpupillary distances were significantly decreased postoperatively in Groups M and B, but were significantly increased in Group L. The order of the magnitude of the horizontal shifts was Groups M>B>L.ConclusionsProptotic thyroid eye disease patients preoperatively showed laterally displaced eyes in comparison with controls. However, the eyes shifted medially after the medial orbital wall decompression and the balanced orbital decompression, although the former showed more shift. Medial orbital wall or balanced orbital decompression can be used to correct both lateral and anterior displacement of the eyes.
Highlights
Eye position is a key aesthetic element [1]
A larger interpupillary distance was demonstrated in Thyroid eye disease (TED) patients than in controls, preoperatively
The distance decreased after the medial orbital wall decompression and the balanced orbital decompression, but increased after the deep lateral orbital wall decompression
Summary
Eye position is a key aesthetic element [1]. Lateral (hypertelorism) and anterior displacement of the eye (proptosis) are representative eye malpositions that disfigure patients’ faces. Horizontal eye positions correlate with anteroposterior positions in the normal population; i.e., a more lateral eye position implies a more anterior eye position [2, 3, 4]. Thyroid eye disease (TED) is one of the most representative entities that cause proptosis. Increased orbital fat and enlarged extraocular muscles occupy the limited orbital space, pushing the eye anteriorly [5]. Whether an eye is displaced laterally in proptotic TED patients has not been examined
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
