Dysthyroid optic neuropathy: Demographics, risk factors, investigations, and management outcomes

Purpose: To analyze the clinical presentations, risk factors, and management outcomes in patients presenting with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). Methods: This is a retrospective, single?center study carried out on consecutive patients presenting with DON over a period of 4 years (2013–2016). The VISA classification was used at the first visit and subsequent follow?ups. The diagnosis was based on optic nerve function tests and imaging features. Demographic profiles, clinical features, risk factors, and management outcomes were analyzed. Results: Thirty?seven eyes of 26 patients diagnosed with DON were included in the study. A significant male preponderance was noted (20, 76.92%). Twenty patients (76.9%, P = 0.011) had hyperthyroidism, and 15 (57.69%, P = 0.02) were smokers. Decreased visual acuity was noted in 28 eyes (75.6%). Abnormal color vision and relative afferent pupillary defects were seen in 24 (64.86%) eyes, and visual field defects were seen in 30 (81.01%) eyes. The visual evoked potential (VEP) showed a reduced amplitude in 30 (96.77%, P = 0.001) of 31 eyes and delayed latency in 20 (64.51%, P = 0.0289) eyes. Twenty?six (70.27%) patients were treated with intravenous methyl prednisolone (IVMP) alone, whereas 11 (29.72%) needed surgical decompression. The overall best?corrected visual acuity improved by 0.2 l logMARunits. There was no statistically significant difference in outcome between medically and surgically treated groups. Four patients developed recurrent DON, and all of them were diabetics. Conclusion: Male gender, hyperthyroid state, and smoking are risk factors for developing DON. VEP, apical crowding, and optic nerve compression are sensitive indicators for diagnosing DON. Diabetics may have a more defiant course and are prone to develop recurrent DON.

Características de orbitopatía asociada al tiroides y tasa de requerimiento de cirugía / Thyroid-associated orbitopathy characteristics and surgery requirement rate

RESUMO Objetivo: Conheça as características demográficas e clínicas da Órbita Associada da Tiroide (OAT), bem como a taxa de exigência da cirurgia orbital em pacientes do Centro Médico Nacional do Oeste. Métodos. Estudo observacional, transversal, descritivo e retrospetivo realizado analisando os registos de pacientes diagnosticados com OAT tratados num centro de cuidados de terceiro nível de janeiro de 2005 a julho de 2016. Os resultados. Um total de 236 órbitas de 118 pacientes foram avaliados, com uma idade média de 47,3 (13,2 anos, 74,6% eram do sexo feminino e 25,4% masculinos. 4,2% dos doentes foram tratados com hipotiroidismo, 94,1% com hipertireoidismo e 1,7% com goiter tóxico difuso. 44,9% dos doentes estudados com restrição de movimento ocular,10,2% com queratopatia de exposição e 51,7% com hipertensão intraocular. 34,7% dos doentes avaliados no serviço necessitaram de descompressão orbital, 16,1% de cirurgia palpebral e 8,5% de correção do hatrabisma. Na gestão conservadora destes doentes, 48,3% exigiam o uso de lubrificantes tópicos dos olhos, enquanto 52,5% dos pacientes necessitavam do uso de hipotensivos oculares em número variável. As conclusões. A OAT foi associada principalmente ao hipertiroidismo, sendo mais comum em pacientes do sexo feminino entre os 40 e os 59 anos; mais de 50% dos pacientes necessitaram do uso de hipotensivos oculares. Da mesma forma, a gestão cirúrgica foi realizada em mais de 50% dos pacientes, sendo a descompressão orbital a intervenção mais frequente.

ABSTRACT Objective. To know the demographic and clinical characteristics of Thyroid Associated Orbitopathy (TAO), as well as the requirement rate of orbital surgery in patients of the Orbit Service in the National Medical Center of the West, IMSS. Methods. Observational, cross-cutting, descriptive and retrospective study carried out analyzing the records of patients diagnosed with TAO and treated at a third-level care center from January 2005 to July 2016. Results. A total of 236 orbits of 118 patients were valued, with an average age of 47.3 ± 13.2 years, 74.6% were female and 25.4% male. 4.2% of patients were treated with hypothyroidism, 94.1% with hyperthyroidism and 1.7% with diffuse toxic goiter. 44.9% of patients studied had eye movement restriction,10.2% exposure keratopathy and 51.7% intraocular hypertension. 34.7% of patients valued in the service required orbital decompression, 16.1% palpebral surgery and 8.5% strabism correction. In the conservative management of these patients 48.3% required the use of topical eye lubricants, while 52.5% required the use of eye hypotensives in variable numbers. Conclusions. TAO was mainly associated with hyperthyroidism, being more common in female patients between the age of 40 and 59; more than 50% of patients required the use of eye hypotensives. Likewise, surgical management was performed in more than 50% of patients, with orbital decompression being the most frequent intervention.

Descompresión orbitaria endoscópica transnasal en orbitopatía tiroidea severa / Transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression in severe thyroid orbitopathy

RESUMEN La orbitopatía tiroidea es una enfermedad autoinmune, en la que una reacción inflamatoria genera aumento de la presión orbitaria con protrusión de su contenido. A menudo es autolimitada y sus síntomas más frecuentes son retracción palpebral, exoftalmo y diplopía. Existen casos severos con compromiso de la agudeza visual por compresión del nervio óptico. El diagnóstico es clínico, pero debe complementarse con una tomografía computarizada. Su tratamiento depende de la gravedad y actividad de la enfermedad, siendo los procedimientos quirúrgicos, como la descompresión orbitaria, de elección en exoftalmo y neuropatía óptica compresiva. El pilar de tratamiento en la orbitopatía tiroidea severa es la cirugía descompresiva. Se han descrito múltiples técnicas, pero con limitaciones. La descompresión endoscópica transnasal, es considerada actualmente el procedimiento de elección, ya que permite una buena visualización de la pared medial, con resultados comparables y menores complicaciones, respecto a métodos tradicionales. Describimos un caso de oftalmopatía tiroidea severa, con exoftalmo, diplopía y disminución de la agudeza visual, en la que se realizó una descompresión endoscópica con muy buenos resultados.

ABSTRACT Thyroid orbitopathy is an autoimmune disease in which an inflammatory reaction generates increased orbital pressure with protrusion of its contents. It is often self-limiting and its most frequent symptoms are eyelid retraction, exophthalmos and diplopia. There are severe cases with compromised visual acuity due to compression of the optic nerve. The diagnosis is clinical, but must be complemented with a computed tomography scan. Its treatment depends on the severity and activity of the disease and the surgicals procedures such as orbital decompression is the best choice in exophthalmos and compressive optic neuropathy. The treatment in severe thyroid orbitopathy is decompressive surgery. Multiple techniques have been described, but with limitations. The transnasal endoscopic decompression is currently considered the gold standard, since it allows a good visualization of the medial wall with comparable results and less complications, compared to traditional methods. We present a case of severe thyroid ophthalmopathy, with exophthalmos, diplopia and decreased visual acuity, in which a transnasal endoscopic decompression was performed with very good outcomes.

Descompresión orbitaria por vía endoscópica nasal en la orbitopatía tiroidea: nuestra experiencia / Endoscopic orbital decompression for the management of thyroid eye disease: our experience / Decompressão orbitaria por via nasal endoscópica na orbitopatia tírida: nossa experiência

INTRODUCCIÓN: La orbitopatía tiroidea es una de las manifestaciones extratiroideas más frecuentes de la enfermedad de graves. El diagnóstico es clínico y con estudios de imágenes. El tratamiento depende de la etapa en que se encuentre la enfermedad, pudiendo ser conservador o quirúrgico, siendo la descompresión orbitaria el pilar del tratamiento. OBJETIVOS: Describir la técnica quirúrgica y las complicaciones más frecuentes. Comprobar los beneficios en la reducción del exoftalmos, la mejoría de la agudeza visual y la descompresión del nervio óptico...

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid orbitopathy is one of the most frequent extra thyroid manifestations of Graves' disease. The diagnosis is clinical and with imaging studies. The treatment depends on the stage in which the disease is found; can be conservative or surgical, the orbital decompression is the pillar of the treatment. OBJECTIVES: Describe the surgical technique and the most frequent complications checking the benefits in the reduction of exophthalmos, the improvement of visual acuity and decompression of the optic nerve…

INTRODUÇÃO: A orbitopatia tireoidiana é uma das manifestações extra tireóides mais freqüentes da doença de graves. O diagnóstico é clínico e com estudos de imagem. O tratamento depende da fase em que a doença é encontrada; podendo ser conservador ou cirúrgico, sendo a descompressão orbital o pilar do tratamento. OBJETIVOS: Descreva a técnica cirúrgica e as complicações mais frequentes. Verificar os benefícios na redução do exoftalmos, a melhora da acuidade visual e descompressão do nervo óptico...

Toxina botulínica A en el músculo recto superior para la corrección de la retracción palpebral / Botulinum toxin A in the upper rectus muscle for the correction of eyelid retraction

Objetivo: evaluar los resultados terapéuticos obtenidos con la inyección de toxina botulínica en el músculo recto superior en pacientes con retracción palpebral moderada y grave en el curso de la orbitopatía tiroidea; determinar la influencia de algunos factores relacionados con estos e identificar las complicaciones y las reacciones adversas asociadas a su uso terapéutico. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo prospectivo en el Servicio de Oftalmología del Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras en una serie de 21 casos con retracción palpebral moderada y grave en el curso de la orbitopatía tiroidea. La inyección de toxina botulínica en el músculo recto superior para la corrección de la retracción de la orbitopatía tiroidea se realiza por primera vez en el país. Resultados: fueron satisfactorios en el 66,7 por ciento de los casos. La edad y la gravedad clínica de la retracción fueron los factores que influyeron sobre la respuesta terapéutica (p= 0,013 y p= 0,015 respectivamente). Conclusiones: la inyección de toxina botulínica en el músculo recto superior es efectiva en la mayoría de los casos tratados, sobre todo en adultos jóvenes y con menor gravedad clínica de la retracción. La hipercorrección es la complicación más temida de este procedimiento(AU)

Objective: to evaluate the therapeutic results of the botulinum toxin injection in the upper rectus muscle in patients with moderate and severe eyelid retraction in the course of thyroid orbitopathy, and to determine the influence of some factors related to these patients and to identify the complications and adverse reactions associated to its therapeutic use. Methods: prospective and descriptive study was carried out at the ophthalmological service of Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital in a 21 case series study with moderate and severe eyelid retraction in the course of thyroid orbitopathy. The injection of botulinum toxin into the upper rectus muscle for the correction of retraction in thyroid orbitopathy was performed for the first time in the country. Results: in this group, 66.7 percent of patients had satisfactory results. Age and clinical severity of retraction were the factors having influence on the therapeutic response (p= 0.013 and p= 0.015 respectively). Conclusions: the botulinum toxin injection into the upper rectus muscle is effective in most of treated cases, mainly in young adults with less clinical retraction severity. Hypercorrection is the most fearful complication in this procedure(AU)

Surgical Anatomy of Deep Lateral Wall by Adults Cadavers and Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: We investigated the surgical anatomy of the deep lateral orbital wall via dissection of Korean cadavers and analysis of the orbit in normal adults using computed tomography. METHODS: Twelve cadavers were used to determine the exact anatomic index of the orbital lateral wall, and computed tomography images of 20 patients were used for surgical anatomic measurements during deep lateral orbital wall decompression. Additionally, the anatomic indexes measured in the cadavers and in the computed tomography study were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: In the cadaver study, the mean distance from the orbital rim to the end of the superior orbital fissure was 36.7 +/- 1.98 mm, to the rim of the frontosphendoial suture was 18.2 +/- 1.92 mm, and from the end of the superior orbital fissure to the inferior orbital fissure was 17.1 +/- 1.19 mm. In the computed tomography study, the mean value from the orbital rim to the end of the superior orbital fissure was 39.2 +/- 2.46 mm, and from the rim to the frontosphenoidal suture was 17.8 +/- 1.56 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The present study regarding the surgical index of the lateral orbital wall in Koreans will assist surgeons to safely and confidently perform deep lateral orbital wall decompression.

Toxina botulínica versus cirugía en el estrabismo restrictivo / Botulinum toxin versus surgery in treating restrictive strabismus

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar los resultados del tratamiento con toxina botulÝnica en su correcci¾n y compararlos con los obtenidos por la cirugÝa convencional, en casos con similar grado de severidad del estrabismo. MÉTODOS: Se realiz¾ un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo y comparativo, en el periodo de mayo de 2006 a febrero de 2009, en un grupo de 10 casos, tratados con toxina botulÝnica, por inyecci¾n directa del músculo afectado. Los resultados de este tratamiento se compararon con los obtenidos por la cirugÝa en un grupo de 10 casos. RESULTADOS: La edad, el predominio del sexo, el tiempo de evoluci¾n y la severidad clÝnica del estrabismo, son similares en ambos grupos, por lo que son comparables. Los resultados fueron satisfactorios en el 70 por ciento de los casos tratados con toxina y cirugÝa. Los valores promedios de las dioptrÝas prismßticas de ambos ojos, disminuyeron el dÝa 7, 45 y 90. No hubo diferencias significativas, entre los valores promedios de las dioptrÝas prismßticas corregidas por ambos tratamientos, en casos con similar grado de severidad del estrabismo. CONCLUSIËN: El tratamiento con toxina botulÝnica es menos invasivo que la cirugÝa

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of the treatment with botulinum toxin in the correction of restrictive strabismus and compare them with those of the surgery, in cases affected by similar strabismus severity. METHOD: A prospective, descriptive and comparative study was made in 10 patients with strabismus from May, 2006 to February, 2009, which were treated with botulinum toxin directly injected into the affected muscle. These results were then compared to those of the surgery performed in 10 cases. RESULTS: Age, the predominant sex, the time of evolution and the clinical severity of strabismus were comparable in both groups. The botulinum toxin results were satisfactory in 70 percent of cases treated with toxin and surgery. The average values of the prismatic dioptries of both eyes lowered at 7th, 45th and 90th days. The differences among the average values of the corrected prismatic dioptries in both types of treatment were not significant. CONCLUSION: The treatment with the botulinum toxin is less invasive than the surgery

The Clinical Characteristics of Thyroid Orbitopathy in Thyroid Dysfunction Patients in Korea

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical manifestation of thyroid orbitopathy among patients with thyroid dysfunction. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 24 general hospitals in Korea. All dysthyroid patients who visited the endocrinology clinic for 1 week were included. Data were collected during an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Thyroid orbitopathy was diagnosed in cases with relevant symptoms according to the VISA classification for which an eye examination was performed. Three hundred seventy-one patients who had thyroid orbitopathy out of 1986 dysthyroid patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Vision symptoms were presented in 10.5% of thyroid orbitopathy patients, inflammation symptoms in 43.1%, strabismus in 15.1%, and appearance and exposure symptoms in 86.3% of patients. Among the eye symptoms, proptosis was most prevalent in 56.9% of patients followed by eyelid retraction in 31.5%, diplopia in 15.1% and optic nerve dysfunction in 2.4% of patients. Median value of exophthalmometry in the thyroid orbitopathy group was 16 mm and 17 mm in the proptosis group. Patient self assessment for thyroid orbitopathy from the onset of the disease was "greatly improved" in 12.1% of patients, "improved" in 19.5%, "unchanged" in 51.2%, "worse" in 19.6%, and "much worse" in 1.0% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among dysthyroid patients, significant amount was found to have symptoms related with thyroid orbitopathy. The patients with thyroid orbitopathy, except for the mildest cases, need to be managed by a thyroid eye disease specialist for further assessment and care.

The Results of Periocular Injections of Triamcinolone for Thyroid Orbitopathy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects and complications of periocular injections of triamcinolone acetonide in patients with thyroid orbitopathy who could not tolerate systemic corticosteroid therapy. METHODS: Six patients with a mean age of 48.7 years showed symptoms of severe acute thyroid orbitopathy. They received four doses of 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide via periocular injection into the inferotemporal orbital quadrant every 2 weeks. The response to treatment and the presence of adverse effects were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Three of six patients (50%) showed significant improvement in soft tissue swelling in both eyes. Only one patient (17%) showed improvement of proptosis. No patients showed improvement in diplopia and ocular motility. The mean thickness of the extraocular muscles measured by CT scan remained unchanged. Compressive optic neuropathy developed in one patient and resolved after intravenous high-dose steroid treatment. Two patients received radiation therapy for resistant inflammatory symptoms. One patient underwent extraocular muscle surgery. In one patient, there was no adverse effect at the injection site, except for a foreign body granuloma. CONCLUSIONS: Periocular triamcinolone injection could be effective for patients with thyroid orbitopathy in the acute inflammatory phase in reducing soft tissue swelling. The procedure showed no significant effect on exophthalmos or ocular motility.

Orbital DEcompression Usiing Caruncular Approach

It is important to perform orbital decompression in the manner of minimizing complication and getting good decompressive effect especially in the patients having cosmetic reason, In order to evaluate the effect of the orbital decompression using caruncular approach, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of orbital decompression performed from February 1994 to August 1997. Forty orbits of 22 patients who had been followed 5 months or more were included in the study. The medial wall was decompressed in all cases and the decompression of medial part of inferior wall, or lateral wall. or medial part of inferior and lateral wall was added to the surgical procedure according to the conditions of each case. Exophthalmos was corrected postoperatively by 3mm in the decompression of the medial wall, 4.3mm in the medial and half of inferior walls, 3.7mm in the medial and lateral walls, and 5.5mm in the medial, half of inferior, and lateral walls. Diplopia developed in 13 cases as a complication. Seven of them had to have strabismus surgery and recovered considerably, and the rest of them having diplopia only in extreme lateral gaze had no discomfort in usual activity. We could obtain satisfactory results in all patients, and this caruncular approach might be considered to be the one of the best approaches in orbital decompressions of cosmetic purpose.