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Graves' Ophthalmopathy Misdiagnosed as Relapsing Conjunctivitis
Irini P Chatziralli1, Evgenia Kanonidou, Petros Keryttopoulos
1Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Veroia, Veroia, Greece.
Case Reports in Ophthalmology
|November 10, 2010
Summary
Graves' disease can manifest solely as eye problems, such as eyelid swelling and dry eye, without other typical symptoms. Early diagnosis of this thyroid eye disease is crucial for managing ocular complications.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Systemic Diseases
Background:
- A 59-year-old female presented with chronic right eye irritation, including epiphora and eyelid swelling, initially misdiagnosed as conjunctivitis.
- Ocular examination revealed exposure keratitis due to incomplete eyelid closure and a 2 mm exophthalmos difference between eyes.
Observation:
- Systemic workup, including orbital CT and thyroid function tests, was initiated to rule out an intraorbital mass.
- Biochemical analysis showed elevated FT(3) and low TSH, indicative of hyperthyroidism.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with Graves' disease presenting exclusively with ophthalmopathy.
- Computed tomography ruled out any intraorbital mass as the cause of symptoms.
Implications:
- This case highlights that Graves' disease can present solely with ocular manifestations, emphasizing the importance of considering systemic conditions.
- Ophthalmologists should be vigilant for subtle signs of thyroid eye disease, even in the absence of other systemic symptoms.
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