The Clinical Result of Medial Orbital Decompression in Patients with Thyroid-associated Orbitopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effects of medial orbital decompression in patients with thyroid orbitopathy. METHODS: Forty-three orbits of 28 patients who underwent medial orbital decompression for cosmetic purposes between January 2014 to January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, exophthalmos, strabismus, and diplopia were checked before, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: The average exophthalmos reduction was −2.99 ± 0.96 mm at postoperative 3 months and −3.07 ± 1.24 mm after 1 year (both, p < 0.001). In patients who underwent unilateral orbital decompression, the mean difference in exophthalmometry between the two eyes was significantly reduced from 3.06 ± 0.78 mm to 0.38 ± 0.44 mm after 3 months, and to 0.50 ± 0.46 mm after 1 year (p = 0.011 and p = 0.012, respectively). After surgery, the final postoperative intraocular pressure decreased significantly at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (both, p < 0.001). The mean preoperative horizontal deviation was 0.88 ± 4.85 prism diopters (PD) and 5.50 ± 6.74 PD at postoperative 3 months, which demonstrated significant esodeviation postoperatively (p = 0.007). Three patients had new onset esotropia (8.33%), but no surgical treatment was needed. CONCLUSIONS: Medial orbital decompression is a less invasive and safe surgical procedure for patients with asymmetric or mild thyroid-associated orbitopathy, which can be beneficial for reducing proptosis.