Postoperative Changes in Strabismus, Ductions, Exophthalmometry, and Eyelid Retraction After Orbital Decompression for Thyroid Orbitopathy

Abstract

On average, esotropia and ductions tend to worsen with decompression surgery. This result supports the clinical dictum to avoid strabismus surgery until after decompression. The improvement in lower eyelid retraction suggests that at least lower eyelid-lengthening surgery should be reserved for after decompression, as there may be significant spontaneous improvement, while the same may not be true for upper eyelid retraction, which does not tend to change with decompression.