[Lateral orbitectomy for correction of endocrine ophthalmopathy]

Grave's disease is often associated with various symptoms summarized as endocrine orbitopathy. A surgical procedure is presented which reduces the exophthalmos by approximately 4.5 mm by resecting the caudal and lateral orbital wall through a subciliar incision. The surgical intervention regularly leads to an amelioration of the functional symptoms of endocrine orbitopathy, such as diplopia, corneal exposure and lid irregularities. In one case an acute reduction of vision on both eyes significantly ameliorated immediately after surgery. The operation described also improves the aesthetic appearance of the patients, who often suffer psychologic impairments associated with Grave's disease.