Treatment modalities of thyroid related orbitopathy

• Main Authors: Eric S Ahn, Prem S Subramanian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Atypical optic neuritis; autoimmunity; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica; neuroretinitis; optic neuritis; optic neuropathy; Acetylcholine; autoimmune; neuro-muscular junction; ocular myasthenia gravis; Cortical visual impairment; hypoxia; hypoglycemia; optic atrophy; prematurity; periventricular leukomalacia; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension; pseudotumor cerebri; treatment; Chemosis; strabismus; thyroid eye disease
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2014;volume=62;issue=10;spage=999;epage=1002;aulast=Ahn
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689

Aims: The aim was to highlight recent advances in the treatment of thyroid eye disease. Settings and Design: Review article. Materials and Methods: Existing literature and the authors′ experience was reviewed. Results: Thyroid ophthalmopathy is a disfiguring and vision-threatening complication of autoimmune thyroid disease that may develop or persist even in the setting of well-controlled systemic thyroid status. Treatment response can be difficult to predict, and optimized algorithms for disease management do not exist. Thyroid ophthalmopathy should be graded for both severity and disease activity before choosing a treatment modality for each patient. The severity of the disease may not correlate directly with the activity; medical treatment is most effective in active disease, and surgery is usually reserved for quiescent disease with persistent proptosis and/or eyelid changes. Conclusions: Intravenous pulsed corticosteroids, orbital radiotherapy, and orbital surgical techniques form the mainstay of current management of thyroid ophthalmopathy. Immunosuppressive and biologic agents may have a role in treating active disease although additional safety and efficacy studies are needed.