[Graefe's balance test in thyroid diseases]

Graefe's test for muscle balance was performed in 100 patients with nodular toxic goitre and Graves-Basedow, and in a control group of 100 healty people. The test was positive in 51% of the thyroid cases for short distance vision. In this group 90% of disorders involved latent divergence, 10% latent convergence. In the control group the test was positive only in 3% of cases. Comparison of the Graefe's balance test with other methods of examination revealed that it is very sensitive; in Maddox test disturbances were found in 24% of patients, Moebius sign was observed in 8%, Dalrymple sign in 4% and exophthalmos in 9%. The authors concluded that Graefe's balance test is a simple examination which can be performed at the bedside and it should be remind.