Refractive changes following corrective surgery for thyroid-related orbitopathy

Thyroid-related orbitopathy (TRO) is a common and recognizable manifestation of Graves’ disease, caused by an increase in orbital fat volume, increased extraocular muscle diameter, and fibrosis. Together, within the bony confines of the orbit, these changes might alter the shape and position of the globe, potentially inducing refractive shifts. These refractive changes may then be affected by corrective surgical interventions for TRO such as orbital decompression and strabismus surgery. We studied refractive changes in patients with TRO who underwent strabismus surgery with or without orbital decompression. Manifest refraction was performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 33 patients who met inclusion criteria. Statistically significant postoperative refractive changes were found for cylinder, axis, and spherical equivalent.