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Changes in retinal nerve fibre layer, ganglion cell layer and visual function in eyes with thyroid eye disease of different severities with and without orbital decompression

Eye volume 37, pages 1571–1576 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate progressive changes in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer/inner plexiform layer (GCL/IPL) and visual function in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients with and without orbital decompression.

Methods

Sixty TED patients (105 eyes) were included. All patients were divided into mild, moderate-to-severe and dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) groups. Orbital decompression was performed in the moderate-to-severe and DON groups. Optic coherence tomography (OCT), visual field (VF) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were performed pre- and postoperatively. Preoperative follow-up was performed in the mild group and in part of the moderate-to-severe and DON groups.

Results

After decompression, the thickness of GCL/IPL and RNFL significantly decreased in DON group (p < 0.05), with varying degrees of decrease in eyes with optic disc swelling, atrophy and normal appearance. The mean GCL/IPL thickness significantly decreased in moderate-to-severe group (p < 0.05), the mean RNFL thickness slightly decreased with no statistical significance (p = 0.07). During the preoperative follow-ups, the mean GCL/IPL thickness significantly decreased (p = 0.04), whereas the mean RNFL thickness tended to increase (p = 0.13) in DON group. The thickness of GCL/IPL and RNFL did not change significantly in the mild and moderate-to-severe groups (p > 0.05). BCVA and VF did not change significantly in any group (p > 0.05) preoperatively.

Conclusion

Swelling and degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) may coexist in DON eyes, leading to continuous changes in the RNFL and GCL/IPL thickness either before or after decompression. Slight swelling and degeneration of RGCs may exist in moderate-to-severe TED eyes, although OCT measurements and visual functions remain stable before surgery.

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Fig. 1: Progressive changes in ophthalmic parameters after orbital decompression surgery.

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Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 82000940, 81800867 and 81970835]. The Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology, China [grant number 20Y11911200].

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Jie Guo, Ruiqi Ma, Lu Gan.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Jie Guo, Ruiqi Ma, Lu Gan, Xiaofeng Li, Kang Xue, Jinwei Cheng & Jiang Qian

  2. NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Shanghai, China

    Jie Guo, Ruiqi Ma, Lu Gan, Xiaofeng Li, Kang Xue, Jinwei Cheng & Jiang Qian

  3. Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China

    Jie Guo, Ruiqi Ma, Lu Gan, Xiaofeng Li, Kang Xue, Jinwei Cheng & Jiang Qian

Authors
  1. Jie Guo
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  2. Ruiqi Ma
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  3. Lu Gan
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  4. Xiaofeng Li
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  5. Kang Xue
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  6. Jinwei Cheng
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  7. Jiang Qian
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Contributions

All authors conceived of and participated in the study design. All authors participated in the eye examinations and data collection. JQ performed the orbital decompression surgeries. JG and RQM drafted the manuscript. LG and XFL performed the statistical analysis. KX, JWC and JQ did critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiang Qian.

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Guo, J., Ma, R., Gan, L. et al. Changes in retinal nerve fibre layer, ganglion cell layer and visual function in eyes with thyroid eye disease of different severities with and without orbital decompression. Eye 37, 1571–1576 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02142-y

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