The Clinical Study on Graves' Ophthalmopathy

Rhee, K C; Lee, T S

Abstract

We evaluated clinical features of 44 patients with Graves'ophthalmopathy experienced at the Department of ophthalmology, Korea University Guro Hospital. Average age of 44 patients was 37. Thirty six of them were female and 8 were male. The most frequent sign observed was upper lid retraction [90%]. Upper lid retraction was less than 2 mm in 18 patients [50%], between 2 and 4mm in 10 [28%], and above 4 mmin 8 [22%]. Other signs were exophthalmos, upper lid lag, restriction of extraocular muscles in order of frequency. Average exophthalmometry readings were 17.5 mmin right eye and 17.3mm in left.The symptom patients most complained was diplopia which was most frequent in upward gaze. Other complaints were foreign body sensation and lacrimation. Thyroid function abnormalities were found in 82% of patients, and remaining 18% were euthyroid. With regard to chronologic relation between ophthalmolpathy and hyperthyroidism, occurrence of ophthalmopathy within 6 months after diagnosis of hyperthy-roidism was most frequent. According to Werner`s classification,class 1 was most frequent[14 patients]whereas class 5 and 6 were only 2 patients each.