Therapeutic effects of three-wall minimally invasive orbital decompression on thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of three-wall minimal invasive orbital decom- pression on thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy based on a clinical study,carried out among a group of such cases with a severe degree of condition.Methods Three-wall minimally invasive orbital decompression was carried out among 5 cases(8 eyes) with a severe degree of exophthalmus,and a period of following up was per- formed among them to observe the therapeutic effect of the surgical therapy on the lesion through a comparative analysis before and after the operation on such indicators as the changes in clinical manifestations,effectiveness of the therapy and the occurring rate of surgical complications.Results After the operation,the conditions of stimulus symptoms and ulcers of the cornea were all disappeared following appropriate treatment among these cases,5 eves were with elevated visual acuity at various levels but not in the other 3,and the degree of exoph- thalmus was decreased by a mean value of 6.2mm (ranged from 5 to 8 mm).All these cases were suffered var- ious degrees of post-operative diplopia,while such a manifestation was cured following a course of therapy lasted for 2 to 3 weeks.Otherwise,no other complications occurred in this group of patients.Conclusions For cases with severe degrees of exophthalmus in such a condition of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy,the procedure of three-wall minimal invassive orbital decompression is capable of reducing the degrees of exoph- thalmus,elevating visual acuity and improving the cosmetic effect,and this surgical procedure is safe,effec- tive and with less rate of complications occurring.