Retrospective clinical cross-sectional study on dysthyroid optic neuropathy / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To clarify the clinical features of dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), so as to provide evidence for early diagnosis and treatment of DON. Methods The general characteristics and data of thyroid function conditions, ophthalmologic and imaging examinations were retrospectively analyzed in 98 patients (196 eyes) with DON diagnosed from Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2017 in our hospital. According to relevant references, the 196 eyes were diagnosed as having definite, equivocal, or no DON. All patients with equivocal or definite DON in at least one eye were recruited. Results Among 98 DON patients, 59 were male and 39 were female, and the ratio of male to female was 1.51 1. The average age of 98 patients was (52.51 ±10.25) years old, ranging from 34 to 74 years old. All patients had a history of smoking or passive smoking. Ninetysix patients had hyperthyrea. Of 98 patients, 80 had definite DON and 18 equivocal, with 122 eyes being definite, 56 being equivocal and 18 having no DON. The mean clinical activity score was (4.44±1.53) in all patients, of whom 30 cases scored≤3. Of 178 definite and equivocal DON eyes, 142 eyes had best corrected visual acuity≤0.6, 130 had reduced colour vision, 38 had optic disc oedema, 56 had optic disc pallor, and 84 had normal optic disc. Seventeen out of 18 eyes without DON had normal optic disc. The exophthalmos≤21 mm was found in 38 definite DON eyes. Orbital imaging examination showed that all 80 definite DON patients had crowded orbital apex syndrome, with 67 cases (83.75%) having bilateral and 13 (16.25%) having unilateral one. Conclusion Older age, male, smoking and hyperthyrea are risk factors of DON. Crowded orbital apex syndrome is the most important pathological basis of DON. Impaired visual acuity, reduced colour vision and optic disc swelling are the most specific clinical features of DON.