Objective: To study the long-term results of decompression surgery in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Design and methods: Retrospective analysis and clinical re-examination of TAO patients with comparison to healthy controls in Helsinki University Central Hospital.
Patients: Seventy-eight patients who had undergone orbital decompression due to TAO by transantral or endonasal technique between the years 1985 and 2000 were invited for re-examination. For comparison, 79 healthy age- and sex-matched controls underwent a similar examination.
Results: In comparison to the patients' preoperative state, proptosis was reduced by 4.7 (2.6) mm (mean (SD)) in the right and 4.4 (2.9) mm in the left globe (P < 0.0001) but did not reach the level of the controls' globe (P < 0.0001). In the right and left eye of patients, visual acuity improved in 44-55%, remained stable in 27-36% and worsened in 18-20%, but remained significantly worse than in controls (P =0.02-0.001). Prevalence of diplopia was high at the re-examination (N = 39, 50%), but 54% of those patients considered it less difficult than before the surgery. Among patients and controls, maxillary sinusitis and facial neuralgias were equally common. Sensory disturbances were significantly more frequent in patients (P < 0.0001). In assessment of overall satisfaction with present eye status, the median of the visual analogue scale (VAS) was lower for the patients than the controls (P < 0.0001). The majority of the patients considered the operation very helpful regardless of the technique used.
Conclusion: For patients with TOA, orbital decompression seems to be an effective and safe treatment.