Abstract
Aim. To compare the measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macula and optic disc parameters obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) between the patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and healthy controls. Methods. One hundred and thirty-two eyes of 66 patients with TAO and 72 eyes of 36 healthy controls were included in the study. Proptosis level was determined by Hertel exophthalmometer. Optic disc, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, and macula parameters were measured by OCT. All measurements of the patients were compared with those of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results. No statistically significant difference was found between the patients with TAO and control group in terms of demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). Exophthalmometer measurements and IOP were higher in TAO group (P < 0.05). Mean macula thicknesses in TAO and control groups were 239.3 ± 29.8 μm and 246.6 ± 31.8 μm, respectively, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P = 0.000). TAO group had thinner inferior RNFL thickness and macular thicknesses (superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal) and higher disc area and C/D ratio when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. IOP, disc area, and C/D area ratio were higher in the patients with TAO and the thicknesses of macula and inferior RNFL were thinner when compared with healthy controls. This trial is registered with registration number at clinicaltrials.gov NCT02766660.
Highlights
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is autoimmune inflammation of orbital tissues
Mean ages were 40.1 ± 12.6 years and 38.3 ± 9.7 for the TAO and control groups, respectively, while no significant difference was found between the two groups (P > 0.05)
Most of the patients were at early phase of the disease in the study, we found that mean inferior retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) was significantly thinner in the TAO group when compared with the controls and there was no statistically significant difference for mean RNFL thickness between groups
Summary
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is autoimmune inflammation of orbital tissues It is accompanied by inflammatory cellular infiltration with lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, and mast cells of interstitial tissues, orbital fat, and lacrimal glands associated with accumulation of glycosaminoglycans and retention of fluid. This causes increase in the volume of orbital contents and secondary elevation of intraorbital pressure [1, 2]. It was shown that optic disc function may be affected in TAO patients without obvious optic neuropathy and extraocular muscle swelling [4,5,6]. Only three studies investigating retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and optic disc morphology measured by OCT in TAO patients were reported [7,8,9] and there is no study evaluating macular thickness by OCT in TAO patients
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
