Ocular surface disease index in Graves' orbitopathy: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune condition causing inflammation of orbital tissues and ocular manifestations.
• Ocular surface disease is a common complication of GO, impacting patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess ocular surface disease (OSD) prevalence using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) in Graves' disease (GD) patients with moderate-to-severe active GO versus mild non-active GO.
• To investigate the correlation between OSD and specific eye features of GO.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 79 GD patients with GO, categorized into moderate-to-severe active GO and mild non-active GO groups.
• OSDI scores were collected and analyzed, along with Clinical Activity Score (CAS), proptosis, and lagophthalmos.

Main Results:

• Patients with moderate-to-severe active GO exhibited significantly higher OSDI scores compared to those with mild non-active GO (P=0.0006).
• A positive correlation was observed between OSDI and CAS in the active GO group (R=0.3867, P=0.0030).
• Proptosis (≥22 mm) and lagophthalmos were identified as significant risk factors for OSD development (P=0.0406 and P=0.0493, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Moderate-to-severe active GO is associated with a higher prevalence of ocular surface disease.
• GO disease activity, proptosis, and lagophthalmos are crucial factors influencing ocular surface health.
• Early assessment and management of ocular surface disease are vital for improving patient outcomes in GO.