Minimally Invasive Orbital Decompression

Orbital Decompression: Conceptual Approach for Orbital Volume Expansion

PURPOSE

To review the advances in the surgical techniques of orbital decompression.

METHODS

A literature review of orbital decompression surgery and experience-based consideration of bony areas for decompression.

RESULTS

In the 100-year-plus span of orbital decompression literature, multiple incisions and multiple bone and fat removal strategies have been described. In general, bone removal has been conceptualized as consisting of 4 walls of the orbit. However, the orbital bony anatomy is more subtle than a simple box, and considering 6 areas of potential bony removal allows a more nuanced paradigm for clinical decision-making and for understanding various technique descriptions. Historical and current techniques, and surgical planning and decision-making, are described from the perspective of a 6 area paradigm. Potential complications are reviewed.

CONCLUSION

A conceptual framework for orbital decompression focusing on 6 potential areas of bone removal provides a nuanced and flexible paradigm for understanding and describing surgical techniques, and for designing individualized surgery. Orbital decompression surgery should be customized to the patient's anatomy and symptoms.

The transconjunctival orbitotomy: A versatile approach to the orbit and beyond

In the management of orbital disorders and defects, minimally invasive surgical approaches have become increasingly efficient for their reduction of operative trauma and access without compromise of therapeutic benefit or diagnostic yield. Various approaches have focused on bone- and canthal-sparing techniques and concealed and small skin incisions. We review the current state of knowledge of procedures to enter the orbit via the conjunctiva. Any quadrant of the orbit can be accessed via the conjunctiva. Surgical incisions involve the orbital palpebral, forniceal, and bulbar conjunctiva. According to the location, nature, and size of the lesion, the transconjunctival orbitotomy can be used as a single procedure, in combination with a caruncular approach or as an adjunct in a multidisciplinary procedure for lesions extending deep into or outside the orbit. The working space and field of operating view can be expanded by releasing the horizontal tension of the eyelid with a lateral cantholysis, lateral paracanthal blepharotomy, or medial lid split procedure. Complications related to the conjunctival incision are reduced to dry eye disease.

Secondary Effects of Orbital Decompression in Thyroid Eye Disease: A Review

PURPOSE

Orbital decompression is mainly performed in thyroid eye disease to reduce proptosis and retrobulbar pressure, to improve venous congestion, and to relieve optic nerve compression. Secondary effects of orbital decompression are also occasionally encountered. The aim of this study was to review the secondary effects of orbital decompression.

METHODS

This is a comprehensive literature review that summarizes the secondary effects of orbital decompression.

RESULTS

Decreased intraocular pressure, inter-pupillary distance, and eyelid pressure, and improvement of eyelid retraction, lateral flare, orbital discomfort, and psychosocial condition after orbital decompression are favorable changes for patients. In contrast, refractive changes in some patients and decreased Bell's phenomenon and nasal function worsen patients' condition.

CONCLUSION

These favorable changes may reduce the patients' burden for treatment of thyroid eye disease. In contrast, as some of the adverse effects significantly worsen the patients' disease condition, we should carefully monitor these changes.

Treatment Results of Endoscopic Transnasal Orbital Decompression for Graves' Orbitopathy-A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis in 28 Orbits of 16 Patients

Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) is an extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease (GD), which can be associated with corneal ulcerations or optic neuropathy in severe forms. Transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression (TEOD) is a surgical procedure performed in order to decrease the intraorbital pressure by removing part of its bony borders in cases with excessive mass in orbit. The aim of this study was to present the results and evaluate the efficacy of TEOD for GO. The retrospective study included 28 orbits (16 patients) who underwent TEOD from 2017 to 2020. Outcome was evaluated based on visual acuity improvement, clinical activity score (CAS) decrease, proptosis, and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction. A preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased from 0.69 ± 0.385 (mean ± standard deviation) to 0.74 ± 0.332 (p = 0.17) postoperatively. CAS decreased in 15 orbits postoperatively. Proptosis decreased from 22.89 ± 1.873 mm to 21.25 ± 2.053 mm (p < 0.05). IOP decreased from a preoperative 16.11 ± 3.93 mmHg to 14.40 ± 3.27 mmHg (p < 0.05) postoperatively. In addition, postoperative relief of exposure keratitis was observed. The analysis of development of iatrogenic diplopia revealed increasing in degree of diplopia. TEOD shows rare complications, but significant improvements in BCVA, CAS, proptosis, and IOP.

Medial orbital wall decompression: Demographics influencing surgical follow-up and complications: Impacts on follow-up and complications

OBJECTIVE

Identify the impact of demographics and social determinants of health on surgical follow-up and complications after medial orbital wall decompression (MOWD) secondary to thyroid associated orbitopathy (TAO).

METHODS

Demographics and social determinants of health (age, sex, race, insurance status) for 46 patients undergoing MOWD secondary to TAO were correlated with post-operative compliance and surgical complications by chi-square analyses.

RESULTS

Among 46 patients, 23 were compliant with follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference between compliance and non-compliance based on age (60.25 vs 56.4, p = .41), sex (71.9 % female vs 85.7 % female, p = .31), race (65.6 % white vs 71.4 % white, p = .70) or insurance status (59.4 % private vs 42.9 % private, p = .30). Complications were noted in 50 % of patients of which sinus infection was most common (47.8 % of complications) and epistaxis rare (4.3 % of complications). No correlation was noted between development of complications and compliance (p = .20). Likewise, age, race and insurance status did not correlate with complications.

CONCLUSION

For patients undergoing MOWD, no correlations with compliance or complication rate were noted with age, sex, race, or insurance status. A larger cohort may be indicated to identify such patterns. The overall complication rate was 50 % and the increased number of visits may have economic impact.

KEY POINTS

This study provides a unique chance to assess demographic correlates of compliance and complication while controlling for surgeon preference. There was no association between sociodemographics and compliance or complications.

Surgical management of the orbit in thyroid eye disease: lateral orbital decompression

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Lateral orbital wall decompression is one of many well established techniques available to surgeons in management of patients with clinically significant thyroid eye disease (TED). Several different surgical approaches have been described in the literature and are reviewed herein.

RECENT FINDINGS

Lateral orbital wall decompression remains a popular technique for surgical management of TED, with a recent American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery survey showing that 22.6% of respondents preferred a single-wall procedure, with 36.8% of that subset preferring lateral wall decompression alone. Surgical techniques for lateral orbital wall decompression differ based on several steps, such as the incisional approach, whether to take an ab-interno versus ab-externo approach, and whether to remove orbital fat to achieve further decompression. In addition, technological advances have produced an array of tools available to the orbital surgeon to achieve efficient and accurate bone removal.

SUMMARY

Lateral orbital wall decompression for TED, despite being an older technique, remains a popular and well established procedure for orbital decompression. Though no randomized controlled clinical trial supports one decompression technique over another for TED, lateral orbital wall decompression offers many benefits such as its ease of access and visualization of the orbital space.

Anaesthesia for ophthalmic procedures in patients with thyroid eye disease

Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the orbit in adults. It causes inflammation, expansion and fibrosis of orbital fat, muscles and the lacrimal gland, leading to facial disfigurement, functional disability and, in severe cases, blindness. Overall, approximately 20% of affected patients need some form of surgical intervention requiring anaesthesia. This narrative review explores the background of thyroid eye disease, surgical procedures performed and their implications for anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is used for orbital decompression procedures, strabismus correction surgery and complex oculoplastic procedures. Local anaesthetic infiltration or regional anaesthesia under monitored anaesthesia care are the techniques most commonly employed for eyelid retraction surgery. It is important to limit the volume of local anaesthetic agent used during infiltration and continuously monitor the orbital volume and ocular pressure with a ballottement technique. In addition, the contralateral eye should be checked and, if necessary, protected against corneal exposure. Retrobulbar, peribulbar and sub-Tenon's blocks are best avoided. Topical anaesthesia has been used for some strabismus correction surgery but its use is limited to motivated and cooperative patients only.

Influence of surgical approach for decompression on lower eyelid position in thyroid eye disease

Purpose: Orbital decompression for thyroid eye disease (TED) has been noted to improve lower lid retraction by 0.5-1 mm. We hypothesize that orbital decompression via transconjunctival approach may lead to increased reduction in marginal reflex distance 2 (MRD2) as it involves division of the lower lid retractors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate relative changes in lower lid position for patients undergoing lateral and transconjunctival orbital decompression, respectively.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all TED patients managed with lateral or transconjunctival orbital decompression for a 3-year period were screened for inclusion. Photographs taken in the primary position preoperatively and three months postoperatively were utilized to evaluate the MRD2 from each patient. Measurements were made utilizing NIH ImageJ software standardized to a corneal diameter. Hertel measurements of proptosis were obtained pre and postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was MRD2 in operative eyes.Results: A total of 131 (86 patients) operative eyes were included in the sample. Mean change MRD2 was not significantly different between the surgical groups (p = 0.07). In multivariate modeling, mean change in MRD2 was significantly associated with change in exophthalmometry, independent of surgical approach.Conclusions: The association between decrease in Hertel measurement and decrease in MRD2 is consistent with the existing literature on the topic. It appears that transconjunctival division of the lower eyelid retractors provides no additional benefit in reducing lower lid retraction relative to change in proptosis.

Orbital decompression for thyroid eye disease

The literature regarding orbital decompression for thyroid eye disease is vast, spanning multiple specialty areas including neurosurgery, head and neck, maxillofacial, and ophthalmic plastic surgery. Although techniques have advanced considerably over the more than 100 years during which this procedure has been performed, the 4 major approaches remain: transorbital, transcranial, transantral, and transnasal. The explosion in literature related to orbital decompression has mostly involved minor technical variations on broader surgical themes. The purpose of this review is to organize the major approaches in terms of bony anatomy and to contextualize variation in transdisciplinary techniques within a common conceptualization.

The effect of orbital decompression surgery on interpupillary distance and angle kappa in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy

PURPOSE

The purpose was to investigate the effects of orbital decompression surgery on postoperative changes in interpupillary distance (IPD) and angle kappa in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO).

METHODS

In patients with TAO who underwent orbital decompression surgery between January 1, 2014 and February 21, 2016, we measured exopthalmometry, IPD, inner intercanthal distance (IICD) and outer intercanthal distance (OICD) using a computer software program and angle kappa with an ORB scan II. We then analyzed preoperative and 3-month postoperative exophthalmometry, IPD, IICD, OICD and angle kappa to evaluate changes in eye position or rotation of the eyeball following orbital decompression surgery.

RESULTS

Fifty-four patients (35 women and 19 men) with a mean age of 34.59 (range, 16-64 years) were enrolled in this study. After decompression surgery, the IPD was significantly decreased by 1.76 mm (preoperative, 63.14 ± 3.93 mm; postoperative, 61.38 ± 3.84 mm; P < 0.001), but angle kappa, IICD, and OICD did not vary significantly (P = 0.814, P = 0.635 and P = 0.092, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A significant decrease in IPD was noted after orbital decompression in patients with TAO. However, there was no significant change in angle kappa. Therefore, the mechanism of change in the IPD is not an inward rotation of the eyeball, but rather an actual dorsal shift causing a wedging of the eye position itself within the orbit.

Effect of Orbital Decompression on Corneal Topography in Patients with Thyroid Ophthalmopathy

Objective

To evaluate changes in corneal astigmatism in patients undergoing orbital decompression surgery.

Methods

This retrospective, non randomized comparative study involved 42 eyes from 21 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy who underwent orbital decompression surgery between September 2011 and September 2014. The 42 eyes were divided into three groups: control (9 eyes), two-wall decompression (25 eyes), and three-wall decompression (8 eyes). The control group was defined as the contralateral eyes of nine patients who underwent orbital decompression surgery in only one eye. Corneal topography (Orbscan II), Hertel exophthalmometry, and intraocular pressure were measured at 1 month before and 3 months after surgery. Corneal topographic parameters analyzed were total astigmatism (TA), steepest axis (SA), central corneal thickness (CCT), and anterior chamber depth (ACD).

Results

Exophthalmometry values and intraocular pressure decreased significantly after the decompression surgery. The change (absolute value (|x|) of the difference) in astigmatism at the 3 mm zone was significantly different between the decompression group and the controls (p = 0.025). There was also a significant change in the steepest axis at the 3 mm zone between the decompression group and the controls (p = 0.033). An analysis of relevant changes in astigmatism showed that there was a dominant tendency for incyclotorsion of the steepest axis in eyes that underwent decompression surgery. Using Astig PLOT, the mean surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was 0.21±0.88 D with an axis of 46±22°, suggesting that decompression surgery did change the corneal shape and induced incyclotorsion of the steepest axis.

Conclusions

There was a significant change in corneal astigmatism after orbital decompression surgery and this change was sufficient to affect the optical function of the cornea. Surgeons and patients should be aware of these changes.

Endoscopic-assisted infraorbital nerve release

Endoscopic-assisted techniques in plastic and craniofacial surgeries are limited. We present a patient with infraorbital nerve entrapment following traumatic facial injury that failed conservative management. Compression of the nerve was treated with an endoscopic-assisted nerve release of the surrounding soft tissue with a circumferential foraminal osteotomy.

Piezosurgery for orbital decompression surgery in thyroid associated orbitopathy

The purpose of this study was to assess a piezosurgical device as a novel tool for bony orbital decompression surgery. At a multidisciplinary orbital center, 62 surgeries were performed in 40 patients with thyroid associated orbitopathy (TAO). Within this retrospective case-series, we analyzed the medical records of these consecutive unselected patients. The reduction of proptosis was the main outcome measure. Indications for a two (n = 27, 44%) or three wall (35, 56%) decompression surgery were proptosis (n = 50 orbits, 81%) and optic neuropathy (n = 12, 19%). Piezosurgery enabled precise bone cuts without intraoperative complications. Proptosis decreased from 23.6 ± 2.8 mm (SD) by 3 mm (95% CI: -3.6 to -2.5 mm) after surgery and stayed stable at 3 months (-3 mm, 95% CI: -3.61 to -2.5 mm, p < 0.001, respectively). The effect was higher in those with preoperatively higher values (>24 mm versus ≤ 24 mm: -3.4 mm versus -2.81 mm before discharge from hospital and -4.1 mm versus -2.1 mm at 3 months: p < 0.001, respectively). After a mean long-term follow-up period of 14.6 ± 10.4 months proptosis decreased by further -0.7 ± 2.0 mm (p < 0.001). Signs of optic nerve compression improved after surgery. Infraorbital hypesthesia was present in 11 of 21 (52%) orbits 3 months after surgery. The piezosurgical device is a useful tool for orbital decompression surgery in TAO. By cutting bone selectively, it is precise and reduces the invasiveness of surgery. Nevertheless, no improvement in outcome or reduction in morbidity over conventional techniques has been shown so far.

Intraocular pressure lowering effect of orbital decompression is related to increased venous outflow in Graves orbitopathy

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of combined orbital bone and fat decompression on intraocular pressure (IOP) and superior ophthalmic vein blood flow velocity (SOV-BFV), and their association with the clinical features of Graves orbitopathy (GO).

METHODS

During the 2002-2008 period, 72 eyes of 36 GO cases demonstrating moderate to severe orbitopathy were evaluated according to their clinical features as: cases with or without dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), and underwent orbital decompression. A control group comprised 40 eyes of 20 healthy subjects. In both groups, a full ophthalmic examination including IOP and Hertel measurements was performed, and SOV-BFV was analyzed with color Doppler imaging. Examinations were repeated after orbital decompression in GO patients.

RESULTS

All the cases demonstrated clinical features of inactive disease. Among the patients 24 of 72 eyes (33.3%) showed clinical features of DON. After surgery, the mean decrease in Hertel values was 6.2 ± 1.8 mm (p = 0.001). The mean decrease in IOP was 3.0 ± 1.7 mmHg (from 17.3 ± 2.7 to 14.3 ± 2.0 mmHg) after orbital decompression where the post-operative values were comparable with the control group (12.9 ± 1.4 mmHg, p = 0.36). The mean increase in SOV-BFV achieved with decompression was 1.2 ± 0.6 cm/s (from 4.8 ± 1.7 to 6.0 ± 1.8 cm/s) and post-operative SOV-BFV values were also comparable with the control group (6.6 ± 1.3 cm/s, p = 0.26). The increase in SOV-BFV in cases with DON did not differ from cases without DON (p = 0.32), however, post-operative SOV-BFV of cases with DON was stil lower than cases without DON (p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined orbital bone and fat decompression significantly reduced the IOP levels and increased the SOV-BFV in GO. This could be the confirmative finding of prediction that elevated IOP in GO is associated with increased episcleral venous pressure. The post-operative changes in IOP and SOV-BFV show differences regarding the clinical features of disease.

Graded decompression of orbital fat and wall in patients with Graves' orbitopathy

Purpose

To investigate the results of graded decompression of orbital fat and walls in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) considering the degree of proptosis reduction at surgery and preoperative computed tomography (CT) findings.

Methods

This is a retrospective interventional case series. Graded orbital fat and wall decompression was performed in 90 orbits of 55 patients. In patients with enlarged extraocular muscles and minimal orbital fat proliferation in preoperative CT scans, one- or two-wall decompression of posterior orbit was performed with minimal fat excision. In other cases, the maximal amount of fat tissue was removed from the post-septal area to the apex. If the proptosis was not satisfactorily symmetrically reduced at surgery, one- or two-wall decompression was performed successively. Symmetric reduction of proptosis was consistently confirmed intraoperatively to assure that a desired amount of exophthalmos reduction was achieved.

Results

Four types of decompression were performed: fat only (group 1), fat and one-wall (group 2), fat and two-wall (group 3), and two-wall and minimal fat decompression (group 4). The mean preoperative Hertel value (20.6 ± 2.8 mm) was reduced significantly at six months postoperatively (16.1 ± 2.3 mm). Proptosis significantly decreased with a mean of 4.3 ± 1.7 mm, and the reduction was greatest (5.1 ± 2.1 mm) in group 3. In group 1, a significant correlation between Hertel change and the volume of resected orbital fat was found (r = 0.479). Diplopia was newly developed or aggravated postoperatively in eight patients, and six of these patients were in group 3. With the exception of one patient, visual acuity improved to nearly normal postoperatively in all patients with optic neuropathy.

Conclusions

Graded orbital decompression of orbital fat and bony walls, as assessed by the degree of proptosis reduction during surgery, was effective and predictable with minimal complications in GO patients with vision-threatening or cosmetically disfiguring proptosis.

Semiautomatic regional segmentation to measure orbital fat volumes in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. A validation study

This study was designed to validate a novel semi-automated segmentation method to measure regional intra-orbital fat tissue volume in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Twenty-four orbits from 12 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, 24 orbits from 12 controls, ten orbits from five MRI study simulations and two orbits from a digital model were used. Following manual region of interest definition of the orbital volumes performed by two operators with different levels of expertise, an automated procedure calculated intra-orbital fat tissue volumes (global and regional, with automated definition of four quadrants). In patients with Graves' disease, clinical activity score and degree of exophthalmos were measured and correlated with intra-orbital fat volumes. Operator performance was evaluated and statistical analysis of the measurements was performed. Accurate intra-orbital fat volume measurements were obtained with coefficients of variation below 5%. The mean operator difference in total fat volume measurements was 0.56%. Patients had significantly higher intra-orbital fat volumes than controls (p<0.001 using Student's t test). Fat volumes and clinical score were significantly correlated (p<0.001). The semi-automated method described here can provide accurate, reproducible intra-orbital fat measurements with low inter-operator variation and good correlation with clinical data.

Surgical treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy

The aims of surgical treatment in Graves's orbitopathy (GO) are improvement of function and appearance. Since antiinflammatory treatment of GO rarely results in a complete resolution of symptoms, surgical treatment is very important for patients well being. Rehabilitative surgery includes orbital decompression, squint correction, lid lengthening and blepharoplasty and these procedures have to be performed in centres of expertise. Various techniques have been developed for orbital decompression which allow now a graded approach to proptosis reduction and optic nerve decompression in emergency situations. Extraocular muscle recessions can be successfully performed to treat most of the patients with diplopia. Only large or complex squint angles are difficult to treat and step by step procedures are recommended in these patients. Lid lengthening procedures are performed most often in GO patients and should be performed under local anaesthesia to get a good result. Serious complications are rare.

Small versus coronal incision orbital decompression in Graves' orbitopathy

Ideally the planning of decompression surgery should be adequate to the severity of the orbitopathy, its possible "lipogenic" or "myopathic" variants, the patient's specific orbital osteology and possible previous surgeries. Due to surgeon's experience and local traditions, however, a standardized rather than a tailored approach is often offered to the patient. An inferior fornix incision can be used for infero medial bony decompression and/or for removing fat from the medial and lateral inferior orbital quadrants. Through the same route a lateral osteotomy can also be performed although an upper skin crease incision offers a wider access to the lateral orbital wall. As an alternative the swinging eyelid technique, offering an adequate access to the bony orbit and to the orbital fat compartments is a versatile technique that can virtually be used as a standard approach for the greatest majority of patients needing decompression surgery. Orbital decompression by coronal incision is an invasive technique and for this not to be used as a standard approach to orbital decompression. Nevertheless, it is not to be abandoned as it can be an additional tool in surgeons' hands when dealing with patients who can better benefit out of a particular, tailored rather than a standardised approach. Many are the circumstances in which this may happen. Major complications associated with the coronal approach have been mainly described in small series, where only a few patients per year were operated. In this respect it is therefore unavoidable to emphasize that each technique has its own learning curve and it may be difficult to differentiate the effects of each technique from the experience of the surgeon.

Small versus coronal incision orbital decompression in Graves' orbitopathy

Ideally the planning of decompression surgery should be adequate to the severity of the orbitopathy, its possible "lipogenic" or "myopathic" variants, the patient's specific orbital osteology and possible previous surgeries. Due to surgeon's experience and local traditions, however, a standardized rather than a tailored approach is often offered to the patient. An inferior fornix and/or upper skin crease incision can be used for infero medial and/or lateral, bony and/or fat decompression. As an alternative the swinging eyelid technique, offering an adequate access to the bony orbit and to the orbital fat compartments is a versatile technique that can virtually be used as a standard approach for the greatest majority of patients needing decompression surgery. Orbital decompression by coronal incision is an invasive technique and for this not to be used as a standard approach to orbital decompression. Nevertheless, it is not to be abandoned as it can be an additional tool in surgeons' hands when dealing with patients who can better benefit out of a particular, tailored rather than a standardised approach. Many are the circumstances in which this may happen. Major complications associated with the coronal approach have been mainly described in small series, where only a few patients per year were operated. In this respect it is therefore unavoidable to emphasize that each technique has its own learning curve and it may be difficult to differentiate the effects of each technique from the experience of the surgeon.

Thyroid eye disease

Introduction

Thyroid eye disease (TED), also known as Graves opthalmopathy is the most common orbital disease and affects 25–50% of patients with Graves' disease (Kuryan et al 2008). Most patients are only mildly affected, suffering ocular irritation with redness and watering, ‘staring eyes' due to retraction of the eyelids, exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeballs) and periorbital swelling (Figure 1). A minority of patients (around 28%) will develop ocular motility problems, leading to diplopia (double vision), exposure/damage to the cornea and optic neuropathy (Kumar & Clarke 2002, Forbes & Jackson 2003, Meyer 2006).

Transconjunctival fat removal combined with conservative medial wall/floor orbital decompression for Graves orbitopathy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the utility of transconjunctival fat removal combined with conservative ("strut-sparing") bony medial/floor orbital decompression for Graves orbitopathy.

METHODS

Retrospective, noncomparative case series of 52 orbits in 28 patients that underwent decompression using this technique. Preoperative and postoperative exophthalmos, diplopia, logMAR visual acuity, and orbital symmetry were measured.

RESULTS

Reduction in exophthalmos up to 8 mm with a mean of 3.3 mm (+/-1.5 mm) was achieved for decompressed orbits (p < 0.001). Postoperative symmetry within 2 mm was achieved in all patients. Diplopia was improved in 4 patients (14%), unchanged in 23 (82%), and worse in 1 (4%). Mean logMAR visual acuity improved -0.11 units (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Orbital fat removal combined with conservative ("strut-sparing") bony medial/floor orbital decompression via a single transconjunctival incision is an effective and efficient technique with minimal morbidity.

Advances in surgical rehabilitation in thyroid eye disease

BACKGROUND

Surgery has evolved over the past 20 years. Conceptual and technical advances have helped improve the surgical rehabilitation of Graves' orbitopathy. A historical comparison of methods and approaches has shown clear progress.

SUMMARY

Surgical rehabilitation of Graves' orbitopathy is traditionally staged: orbital decompression, extraocular muscle surgery, eyelid repositioning, and the soft tissue volume and redraping. Improvements in techniques have evolved from the problems that historical methods have presented, and an evaluation of each will help appreciate the improvements that have been made for patient care.

CONCLUSION

Incremental improvements in surgery for thyroid eye disease have been made over the past 20 years. However, thyroid-related orbitopathy will always be limited by fibrotic and structural changes that may be camouflaged by surgery, but never cured. Future advances in medical management will be derived from the laboratory.

Intraocular pressure and refractive changes following orbital decompression with intraconal fat excision

The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and refraction following orbital decompression for thyroid orbitopathy.

Combined transconjunctival–eyebrow approach providing minimally invasive access to all orbital quadrants

✓Surgical approaches to treat orbital disease should provide a good exposure of intraorbital anatomical structures, allow their functional preservation, and provide good cosmetic results. The authors describe a minimally invasive, combined transconjunctival–eyebrow approach to all orbital quadrants in a step-wise manner. The indications, advantages, and limitations of the technique are highlighted.

A transconjunctival approach via the postseptal area is described. It allows exposure of the medial, inferior, and lateral parts of the orbit. Depending on the orbital space to be exposed, a lateral or a medial eyebrow incision is then made. The eyebrow and the conjunctival incisions are connected by subperiosteal dissection. This combined access provides exposure to all intraconal muscles and to the superior, medial, lateral, and inferior portions of the optic nerve.

The combined transconjunctival–eyebrow approach provides an excellent orbital exposure, with minimal damage to the circumjacent structures. It requires less operative time than other approaches and yields good cosmetic results. Intracranial or intrafacial tumor extension and tumors located purely in the orbital apex are limitations for the use of this technique.