Retrobulbar neuritis associated with hyperthyroidism.

Abstract

IN RECENT years, the intensive study of thyroid function by a number of newly developed technics and drugs brought about a gradual reassessment of the classic concept of Graves's disease. While the common hypermetabolic and/or exophthalmic forms of Graves's disease present little diagnostic difficulty, these new methods have made it possible to evaluate peculiar cases in which the symptoms were primarily cardiotoxic or myopathic, or even simulated hyperparathyroidism.1We wish to present two cases in which a neuropathic syndrome was outstanding. It may be of interest to note in passing that these two cases were studied in different institutions at different times by different workers, and only a chance hallway conversation served to bring them together. It was not until the case reports were actually written and compared that the remarkable similarities became fully appreciated. REPORT OF CASES Case 1. —F. J., a schoolgirl, was first seen by one