Acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy of Koreans. Ophthalmology. 2012;119:390-395. [PMID: 21978591 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.07.048]

Eyelid Surgery in Thyroid Eye Disease

PURPOSE

To review and summarize a comprehensive synopsis of surgery of the eyelid in thyroid eye disease (TED).

METHODS

A PubMed search for specific eyelid manifestations of TED was performed. Studies reporting surgical management of these were reviewed, along with the author's own experience.

RESULTS

The most common eyelid manifestations of TED include eyelid retraction, blepharoptosis, entropion, and epiblepharon, with most of them requiring surgical intervention. The correction of eyelid retraction has received maximum attention, with several surgical techniques that have stood the test of time. Blepharoptosis in TED that requires surgical intervention is usually aponeurotic. Entropion and Epiblepharon are rare in TED, and may resolve spontaneously, or following orbital decompression.

CONCLUSIONS

Retraction is the commonest eyelid manifestation of TED, with multiple surgical options available for its correction. Blepharoptosis, entropion, and epiblepharon are rare eyelid findings in TED, that may occasionally require surgical correction.

Acquired Epiblepharon Alleviated With Teprotumumab Treatment in Active Thyroid Eye Disease Patient

A 46-year-old Asian female patient with thyroid eye disease reported ocular irritation, eyelid swelling, diplopia, and pain with eye movement. The patient was diagnosed with active thyroid eye disease and secondary thyroid eye disease-acquired epiblepharon, which was causing bilateral punctate epithelial erosion. Treatment was started with newly U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved teprotumumab, an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibitor. Four infusion treatments later, the patient's epiblepharon was alleviated with minimal side effects. In this report, the authors present a case of thyroid eye disease-acquired epiblepharon resolving with teprotumumab treatment.

Comparison of ocular axis and corneal diameter between entropion and non-entropion eyes in children with congenital glaucoma

BACKGROUND

Children with congenital glaucoma are often accompanied by acquired epiblepharon in the lower eyelid, which causes entropion of the lower eyelid and damages the cornea.

AIM

To infer the possible causes of lower eyelid entropion by comparing the difference of ocular axis and corneal diameter between inverted and non-inverted ciliary eyes in children with congenital glaucoma.

METHODS

A total of 15 patients (11 males and 4 females) diagnosed with congenital glaucoma between July 2016 and January 2019 at Tongren Hospital were included. Five patients had bilateral glaucoma, and ten had unilateral glaucoma. Each patient had only one eye with lower eyelid entropion which is associated with congenital glaucoma. All the patients had no entropion in another eye. The clinical data were collected. Main outcome measures were the ocular axis and corneal diameter.

RESULTS

The average age of the 15 patients was 1.85 ± 0.49 years. Paired t-test showed that the average ocular axis of congenital glaucoma eyes with lower eyelid entropion (24.86 ± 3.44 mm) was significantly longer than that of congenital glaucoma eyes without lower eyelid entropion (20.79 ± 1.34 mm; P < 0.001). The average corneal diameter of congenital glaucoma eyes with lower eyelid entropion (13.61 ± 0.88 mm) was also significantly greater than that of congenital glaucoma eyes without lower eyelid entropion (11.63 ± 0.48; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The rapid growth of the ocular axis and corneal diameter may be the main cause of congenital glaucoma with acquired lower eyelid entropion. Therefore, children with poor control of intraocular pressure and excessive growth of ocular axis and corneal diameter must be observed for the existence of acquired epiblepharon.

Lower eyelid entropion in thyroid eye disease

Purpose: To report the clinical features, ultrasound biomicroscopic features, and management outcome in patients presenting with thyroid eye disease (TED) and lower eyelid entropion. Methods: Retrospective interventional case review of patients with TED presenting with lower eyelid entropion over a 12-year period.Results: Five patients (eight eyes) of a total of 1211 presented with lower eyelid entropion as one of the presenting signs of TED (0.41%). The average age was 28.8 years (18-39 years), and three patients were males. Three had systemic hyperthyroidism, and two were euthyroid. Four (80%) had bilateral TED, three had inactive disease, and two were active. The average Hertel exophthalmometry reading was 24.6 mm. All patients had upper lid retraction. Four (80%) had concomitant lower eyelid retraction. Entropion was medial in five and complete in three eyes. Symptomatic corneal epitheliopathy was noted in four eyes. UBM was performed in four eyes which showed a thickened middle lamella. In four eyes (three patients), the entropion was managed conservatively as the patient was not contemplating surgery for proptosis. In the remaining four eyes (two patients) orbital decompression was performed and the lower eyelid retractor release corrected the symptomatic entropion. The average follow-up was 11.6 months (range 1-30).Conclusion: Lower eyelid entropion is a rare presenting sign in TED. The mechanism is multifactorial and could be caused by the thickened and fibrosed lower lid retractors, as demonstrated by UBM. Young age and globe projection may play a role. Decompression approaches that involve lower lid retractor release correct the entropion.

Effect of Congenital Lower Eyelid Epiblepharon Surgery on Asymmetric Margin Reflex Distance 1

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1) asymmetry in congenital lower eyelid epiblepharon and its resolution after surgical correction of epiblepharon.Methods: Among patients who underwent lower eyelid epiblepharon surgery from November 2015 to September 2017, patients with a preoperative MRD1 difference of more than 1.0 mm between the two eyes according to medical photographs were defined as having MRD1 asymmetry. A postoperative MRD1 difference of less than 1.0 mm between the two eyes was regarded as MRD1 asymmetry resolution. The preoperative MRD1 difference was compared between subgroups with resolved or sustained MRD1 asymmetry. Astigmatism and amblyopia were also assessed.Results: Among 432 patients, MRD1 asymmetry was observed in 24 patients (5.6%). MRD1 was always lower in the side with more extensive epiblepharon. At 6 months after surgery, the mean MRD1 difference between the two eyes was significantly decreased (1.8 ± 0.7 mm to 0.5 ± 0.8 mm, p < .001, paired t-test) and MRD1 asymmetry resolution occurred in 19 patients (79%). In the resolved MRD1 asymmetry group, the preoperative MRD1 difference was 2.0 mm or less and was significantly smaller than that in the sustained MRD1 asymmetry group (p = .010, Mann-Whitney U test). Six patients had preoperative aniso-astigmatism ≥ 1.50 D. Unilateral amblyopia presented in nine patients (38%) and improved within 1 year postoperatively.Conclusions: MRD1 asymmetry can be resolved after epiblepharon surgery, especially when the preoperative MRD1 difference is 2.0 mm or less. Unilateral amblyopia was frequent, but the treatment outcome was good.

A retrospective study of pediatric thyroid eye disease: the Asian experience

AIM

To study the clinical presentation, disease characteristics, and management approach for children with thyroid eye disease (TED) over a 10 year period in a multidisciplinary Paediatric Thyroid Eye Disease Clinic at a tertiary care referral center.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of patients with TED at Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital (KKWCH) Singapore between August 2006 to June 2015. The diagnosis of TED was clinical based on the Bartley criteria. Ophthalmic examination findings, systemic thyroid function and ophthalmological intervention were recorded.

RESULTS

Nineteen subjects with pediatric TED were studied. The median age at diagnosis was 12.5 years (range 6-17). The onset of TED was at the same time as their thyroid disease in half of these patients (52.6%) of which all were hyperthyroid except one. The most common signs at TED diagnosis were proptosis (84.2%), lid retraction (63.2%), acquired epiblepharon (63.2%). All patients were inactive and none had evidence of compressive optic neuropathy. TED remained stable in all patients except for one who developed worsening proptosis with exposure keratopathy. No patients were prescribed steroids (oral or intravenous) or had orbital decompression surgery. The most debilitating morbidity was acquired epiblepharon of which out of 12 patients, one had everting sutures and three were offered surgical correction.

CONCLUSIONS

Paediatric TED subjects exhibit milder clinical manifestations compared to adults. Acquired epiblepharon causes most significant visual morbidity by compromising the corneal surface. Being cognizant of the subtleties of pediatric TED will permit the discerning clinician to effectively manage such cases accordingly.

Thyroid Eye Disease-Related Epiblepharon: A Comparative Case Study

PURPOSE

This study describes the clinical features and management of epiblepharon as a manifestation of thyroid eye disease (TED). In addition, we compare the frequency and age in Asian and non-Asian patients, and discuss pathophysiologic implications.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study.

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective review that identified 172 adult patients (age 19 to 83) with TED that were consecutively evaluated by 1 author (T.J.M.) between December 2015 and July 2018. Diagnosis of TED and epiblepharon was based upon clinical assessment as documented in the medical record.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 172 patients (mean age 52; 138 female), 3 patients with acquired epiblepharon were identified, all of whom were Asian. The proportion of affected Asian patients (3/of 17, 17.6%) was significantly higher than that of non-Asian patients (0/155, P < 0.001). Patients with epiblepharon were also significantly younger than those without epiblepharon, 29.7 ± 2.1 versus 48.7 ± 13 years of age (P = 0.026). All 3 patients underwent surgical correction with lateral canthoplasty and anterior lamellar pretarsal fixation with successful outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower eyelid epiblepharon may occur in TED. In our clinic-based population, this finding was significantly more frequent in Asian patients and in younger patients. Relieving horizontal tension in conjunction with anterior lamella pretarsal fixation is an effective method of correcting TED-associated epiblepharon.

Epiblepharon in congenital glaucoma: case-control study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To assess the prevalence, clinical features and risk factors of lower lid epiblepharon among patients with congenital glaucoma.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, observational, case-control study. Patients diagnosed with congenital glaucoma between August 1999 and November 2014 were included. Demographic and clinical characteristic data were collected. Age-matched normal controls were recruited form general population. Main outcome measures were the prevalence, laterality and factors associated with epiblepharon in patients with congenital glaucoma.

RESULTS

The prevalence of lower lid epiblepharon was higher in patients with congenital glaucoma compared with control group (40.7% vs 13.3%, p<0.001). Unilateral epiblepharon was only shown in patients with congenital glaucoma (47.8% vs 0.0%, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that high intraocular pressure (IOP) at glaucoma diagnosis (OR=1.122), presence of corneal erosion (OR=82.664) and presence of buphthalmos (OR=12.600) were significantly associated with the presence of lower lid epiblepharon. In addition, unilateral epiblepharon was associated with unilateral buphthalmos and unilateral glaucoma (OR of 49.849 and 7.338, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of epiblepharon was higher in patients with congenital glaucoma compared with age-matched general population. In patients with congenital glaucoma, epiblepharon was associated with corneal erosions. In addition, buphthalmos and initial high IOP were associated with the development of lower lid epiblepharon. More importantly, unilateral buphthalmos was also significantly associated with unilateral epiblepharon. Therefore, in patients with congenital glaucoma, presence of epiblepharon should be evaluated especially in patients accompanying buphthalmos or corneal erosion.

Thyroid eye disease: a Southeast Asian experience

AIM

To study the demographics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations and treatment methods of thyroid eye disease (TED) in Singapore.

METHODS

In this retrospective case series, we analysed the case records of all patients with TED who presented at our multidisciplinary Thyroid Eye Clinic from November 2002 to October 2012.

RESULTS

There were a total of 174 patients-111 female patients (63.8%) and 63 male patients (36.2%). The majority of the patients were ethnically Chinese (80.5%), followed by Malay (10.3%) and Indian (6.3%). The mean age was 40.2 years (SD±15.5, range 0.3-87.0). The commonest sign on ophthalmic examination was eyelid retraction (62.1%), followed by proptosis (61.0%) and lid lag (57.5). Acquired epiblepharon and corneal erosions were noted in 11.5% and 29.3% respectively. Eight patients (4.6%) had dysthyroid optic neuropathy. The mean exophthalmometry reading was 18.8 mm (SD±3.32, range 10.0-28.0). Mild, moderate and severe disease was noted in 71.3%, 20.7% and 8.0% respectively. Thyroid dysfunction was managed with anti-thyroid medication only (40.2%), β blockers (19.5%), thyroxine replacement (14.4%), radioactive iodine (14.4%) and block-replace regime (9.8%). Clinically significant active orbitopathy was managed with intravenous corticosteroids (12.1%). Surgical procedures consisted of thyroidectomy (10.3%), eyelid surgery (8.6%), orbital decompression (7.5%), epiblepharon correction (2.3%) and strabismus surgery (0.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal erosion secondary to acquired epiblepharon is a common sign in East Asian patients with TED, thus increased awareness among physicians should be encouraged. Mean exophthalmometry values and frequencies of upper eyelid retraction and oedema are lower in East Asian patients compared with Caucasian patients. Among Singapore's multi-ethnic population, Malay patients with TED had the highest exophthalmometry reading.

Pediatric thyroid eye disease--the Singapore experience

PURPOSE

To identify the demographics, risk factors, clinical manifestations and treatment methods of pediatric thyroid eye disease (TED) in a South-East Asian tertiary referral practice.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of all pediatric patients (aged 18 years and under) who presented to our TED clinic between Jan 2006 and Dec 2012.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (26 eyes) were identified - 8 females (61.5%) and 5 males (38.5%), accounting for 6.2% of all TED patients in our practice. Median age was 10.0 years (range, 0.3-18.0). Positive family history was noted in 9 patients (69.2%) and there were no active/passive smokers. Mean follow-up duration was 1.81 years (range, 0-5.2). Common presenting signs included proptosis (92.3%), eyelid retraction (84.6%), acquired epiblepharon (69.2%), corneal erosion (53.8%), and lagophthalmos (53.8%). None had optic neuropathy or strabismus. Mean exophthalmometry was 17.8 mm (SD ± 3.6 mm, range 13.0-27.0). Ten patients (76.9%) had mild disease, 3 patients (23.1%) had moderate disease and none had severe disease. Clinically significant Active disease as defined in adults (VISA Inflammatory Score >4/10), was not observed in any patient. The majority of the patients were treated conservatively. One patient underwent bilateral orbital decompression for severe proptosis, while two patients underwent bilateral lower epiblepharon correction with good outcomes. None required corticosteroids (oral/pulsed).

CONCLUSION

Clinical manifestations in pediatric TED are relatively mild and respond well to conservative therapy. Orbital decompression is rarely required but may be considered in children with severe proptosis. Mean exophthalmometry values are lower in East-Asian pediatric TED as compared to Caucasians. Symptomatic acquired epiblepharon, usually associated with keratopathy, is commonly seen in East-Asian pediatric TED; thus, increased awareness among ophthalmologists and pediatricians should be emphasized.

Outcomes of various surgical procedures on acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy

Purpose

To report the outcomes of acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon after various surgeries in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of the medical records of 53 TAO patients with acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon between October 1999 and June 2011 was performed. Data were collected on demographics, type of lower eyelid epiblepharon, the detailed surgical history such as orbital decompression, retraction repair, or epiblepharon repair and surgical outcomes including follow-up period, recurrence of epiblepharon, and post-operative complications.

Results

Among the 53 TAO patients with acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon, 25 eyes of 17 patients underwent surgical management; 6 eyes of orbital decompression, 1 eye of orbital decompression followed by retraction repair, 2 eyes of orbital decompression followed by epiblepharon repair, 6 eyes of lower eyelid retraction repair, and 10 eyes of epiblepharon repair. Twenty two lower eyelid epiblepharons (88%) were resolved after final surgical treatment without complication during mean 16.2 months (SD, ±29.9 months) of follow up period; three of 6 epiblepharons that remained after orbital decompression underwent subsequent surgical management of retraction repair or epiblepharon repair, and epiblepharons were well-corrected. Mean amount of lower eyelid retraction was decreased from 1.68 mm (SD, ±1.17 mm) to 0.29 mm (SD, ±0.44 mm) after surgery, regardless of the type of surgery (n = 25, p < 0.000, Wilcoxon signed rank test).

Conclusions

Acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon of TAO should be managed sequentially according to the general serial order of surgical managements in TAO; orbital decompression, correction of lower eyelid retraction and epiblepharon repair. Acquired lower eyelid epiblepharon was well resolved after surgical management in consecutive order, especially after repair of the lower eyelid retraction with a graft, or lower eyelid epiblepharon repair. Decreased lower eyelid retraction with a resolution of epiblepharon after surgery implied that lower eyelid retraction was associated with lower eyelid epiblepharon.