Acute vision threatening thyroid orbitopathy associated with cataract surgery: A case series and review of the literature

Abstract

Thyroid eye disease can be associated via cataract surgery with devastating visual consequences. A systematic review of the clinical records of patients with aggravation of their thyroid orbitopathy after eye surgery at a tertiary facility was performed. Patients who had worsening of their thyroid orbitopathy within the post-operative period of cataract surgery were included. Clinical findings were reviewed including clinical examination and imaging. A literature review was also performed. Two patients who underwent cataract surgery and presented with newly diagnosed and severe thyroid orbitopathy post-operatively were identified. Both patients were male, averaging 71 years of age. Both patients noticed symptoms of diplopia within one week after cataract surgery and had clinical and imaging findings consistent with severe thyroid orbitopathy. Both patients required urgent bilateral orbital decompression due to compressive optic neuropathy. Visual acuity was preserved in both patients. The average follow-up was 6 years. Males who have activation of TED after cataract surgery appear to have a higher risk of developing compressive optic neuropathy and require immediate intervention, which is consistent with male gender as a risk factor for severe disease. Patients with thyroid disease should be counselled pre-operatively about the risk of disease aggravation after cataract surgery.