Secondary Effects of Orbital Decompression in Thyroid Eye Disease: A Review

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Orbital decompression is mainly performed in thyroid eye disease to reduce proptosis and retrobulbar pressure, to improve venous congestion, and to relieve optic nerve compression. Secondary effects of orbital decompression are also occasionally encountered. The aim of this study was to review the secondary effects of orbital decompression.

Methods

This is a comprehensive literature review that summarizes the secondary effects of orbital decompression.

Results

Decreased intraocular pressure, inter-pupillary distance, and eyelid pressure, and improvement of eyelid retraction, lateral flare, orbital discomfort, and psychosocial condition after orbital decompression are favorable changes for patients. In contrast, refractive changes in some patients and decreased Bell’s phenomenon and nasal function worsen patients’ condition.

Conclusion

These favorable changes may reduce the patients’ burden for treatment of thyroid eye disease. In contrast, as some of the adverse effects significantly worsen the patients’ disease condition, we should carefully monitor these changes.

KEYWORDS:

• Ocular and periocular changes
• orbital decompression
• Quality of life
• Secondary effect
• Thyroid eye disease

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

Yasuhiro Takahashi contributed to conceptualization, investigation, data curation, formal analysis, methodology, project administration, and writing – Original draft

Aric Vaidya contribute to writing – review and editing.

Other contributor

No one contributed to the work who did not meet our authorship criteria.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.