Clinical survey of ocular findings in patients with grave's disease

Abstract Background: Grave's disease is an autoimmune process manifested by three hallmarks: hyper-thyroidism with diffuse goiter, ophthalmopathy and dermopathy. This disease usually occurs with hyper thyroidism although the patients may be euthyroidism. Objective: To evaluate the ophthalmic lesions in patients with grave's disease according to sex, age, and the duration of the illness as well as the treatment. Methods: Ninety five patients (62% females and 38% males) with grave's disease were included in this study. The subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and the results were recorded. Findings: The elevation of IOP and chemosis were significantly higher in males than in females. The prevalence of ophthalmopathy was 60%, and most common ophthalmic signs were proptosis and lid retraction .Eye lesions were more frequent among 50-70 years old patients. In addition, chemosis, periorbital edema, corneal sensitivity secondary to dry eye, convergence insufficiency, diplopia and proptosis were positively correlated with age. Initially, ophthalmic complains were only given by 15% of the subjects. Lid retraction was decreased with prolonged duration of disease whereas chemosis, conjunctival congestion, and extra-ocular muscle enlargements were increased. Conclusions: Grave's ophthalmopathy was found mostly in males and proptosis with lid retractions were the most important signs of the disease.