AbstractIntroduction: Patients with thyroid eye disease may have an elevated intra ocular pressure in primary position or on attempted upgaze, which is related to the restrictive myopathy and / or orbital congestion. Increased intra ocular pressure results from pressure of the inelastic muscle pulling the eye and is most commonly appreciated on attempted upgaze with a tethered inferior rectus muscle. Methodology: This prospective, observational study enrolled 30 consecutive patients, visiting to GRH Ophthalmology OPD with proven diagnosis of thyroid related orbitop. Thyroid related orbitopathy was diagnosed on the basis of clinical history of thyroid dysfunction, eye symptoms and signs. Laboratory investigations – serum T3, T4 and TSH, which confirmed the thyroid status to be hyper, hypo or euthyroid and all patients, underwent ultrasonography and few computed tomography as required. Results: The Paired sample test and statistics, revealed a significant increase in intraocular pressure, when the gaze is shifted from primary to up gaze (pvalue 0.0001). There was a mean difference of 4.57mm in intraocular pressure from primary to up gaze. Conclusion: The incidence of glaucoma was not higher than that in the normal general population, as only two patients had glaucoma.
Keywords: Intraocular Pressure; Glaucoma; Thyroid Related Orbitopathy.