The relationship between Graves' ophthalmopathy and dry eye syndrome

Artificial-Intelligence-Enhanced Analysis of In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in Corneal Diseases: A Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen significant progress in medical diagnostics, particularly in image and video analysis. This review focuses on the application of AI in analyzing in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images for corneal diseases. The cornea, as an exposed and delicate part of the body, necessitates the precise diagnoses of various conditions. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a key component of deep learning, are a powerful tool for image data analysis. This review highlights AI applications in diagnosing keratitis, dry eye disease, and diabetic corneal neuropathy. It discusses the potential of AI in detecting infectious agents, analyzing corneal nerve morphology, and identifying the subtle changes in nerve fiber characteristics in diabetic corneal neuropathy. However, challenges still remain, including limited datasets, overfitting, low-quality images, and unrepresentative training datasets. This review explores augmentation techniques and the importance of feature engineering to address these challenges. Despite the progress made, challenges are still present, such as the "black-box" nature of AI models and the need for explainable AI (XAI). Expanding datasets, fostering collaborative efforts, and developing user-friendly AI tools are crucial for enhancing the acceptance and integration of AI into clinical practice.

Ocular surface and meibomian gland evaluation in euthyroid Graves' ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

Euthyroid Graves' ophthalmology (EGO) refers to the subgroup of thyroid eye disease patients with distinct clinical presentations. This study evaluated the ocular surface and meibomian gland changes in EGO patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at The Chinese University of Hong Kong including 34 EGO patients and 34 age-and sex- matched healthy controls. Outcome measures include anterior segment examination, keratographic and meibographic imaging.

RESULTS

Between 34 EGO patients and 34 age and sex-matched healthy controls, EGO was associated with a higher ocular surface disease index (P < 0.01), higher severity of meibomian gland dropout (upper: P < 0.001, lower: P < 0.00001) and higher percentage of partial blinking (P = 0.0036). The worse affected eyes of the EGO patients were associated with corneal staining (P = 0.0019), eyelid telangiectasia (P = 0.0009), eyelid thickening (P = 0.0013), eyelid irregularity (P = 0.0054), meibomian gland plugging (P < 0.00001), expressibility (P < 0.00001), and meibum quality (P < 0.00001). When the two eyes of the same EGO patient were compared, the degree of meibomian gland dropout was higher among the worse affected eyes (upper: P < 0.00001, and lower: P < 0.00001). Tear meniscus height, lipid layer thickness, and noninvasive break-up time were comparable between the two eyes of EGO patients and also between EGO patients and healthy controls. TMH was positively correlated with the degree of exophthalmos (r = 0.383, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EGO patients have more ocular surface complications and meibomian gland dropouts than healthy controls. Almost 60% of them had dry eye symptoms, but aqueous deficiency was not apparent. Further studies are warranted to clarify the mechanism of dry eye in EGO. (249 words).

Ocular Surface Disease Related to the Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Phases of Thyroid Eye Disease

Purpose

This study evaluated the ocular surface disease (OSD), especially dry eye disease (DED) parameters by combining qualitative and quantitative tools, including tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), in patients with Graves' disease (GD) with and without Thyroid eye disease (TED).

Patients and Methods

A total of 17 active TED, 16 inactive TED, 16 GD without ophthalmopathy, and 16 healthy controls were included. All patients were assessed with CAS, ophthalmometry, qualitative tear MMP-9, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), ocular surface staining, Schirmer test, meibography, tear meniscus height, conjunctival hyperemia, and non-invasive tear film break-up time. Patients were classified into three subtypes of DED: aqueous tear deficiency, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and mixed dry eye.

Results

Inactive TED was shown to be an associated factor with DED (odds ratio 14, confidence interval 2.24-87.24, p=0.0047), and presented more DED than healthy controls (87.5% versus 33.3%, p=0.0113). MGD was also more prevalent among these subjects than in healthy control (62.5% versus 6.7%; p=0.0273). No significant differences were found in other ophthalmological parameters, except for more intense conjunctival redness among active TED than GD without ophthalmopathy (p=0.0214). Qualitative MMP-9 test was more frequently positive in both eyes among active TED than in other groups (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Patients with GD were symptomatic and presented a high prevalence of ocular surface changes and DED, particularly the subgroup with inactive TED. Tear MMP-9 detection was associated with active TED suggesting a relationship between ocular surface changes and the initial inflammatory phase of ophthalmopathy.

THE EFFECT OF PALPEBRAL FISSURE HEIGHT IN PRIMARY GAZE POSITION ON TEAR FILM STABILITY

This study aimed to investigate the effect of palpebral fissure height in primary gaze position in healthy individuals on tear film stability. In this cross-sectional study, 120 subjects (60 male and female each) were enrolled and divided according to age into two groups, i.e., group 1 (aged 18-50 years) and group 2 (aged 51 and older). Palpebral fissure height on both eyes was measured in primary gaze position with a clear plastic ruler held in a central vertical position between the upper and lower lid margin, and the standard tear break-up time (TBUT) test was performed to evaluate tear film stability. Palpebral fissure height was significantly higher in younger than older subjects in all measurements on both eyes (p<0.001), and TBUT was shorter in older than in younger subjects. In all subjects included in the study, palpebral fissure height was not related to TBUT (p=0.589). However, analyzing the two age groups separately, a significant negative correlation was found between the palpebral fissure height and TBUT in both groups of younger (p<0.001) and older (p=0.009) subjects. In conclusion, an enlarged exposed ocular surface due to higher palpebral fissure height in healthy individual's primary gaze position negatively affects tear film stability expressed by TBUT.

Symptoms and signs of dry eye in children with Graves' ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tear secretion and ocular surface properties in children with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and to compare the results with those of healthy children.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Forty-three patients with GO (Group 1) and 41 healthy children without any ocular and/or systemic disorder (Group 2) were examined clinically and underwent tests for dry eye. We performed analyses including the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer's test under topical anesthesia (<5 mm was abnormal), slit-lamp biomicroscopy (corneal fluorescein staining and tear breakup time (TBUT) under blue-light illumination), and fundoscopic evaluation.

RESULTS

Dry eye symptoms and the mean OSDI score were significantly (P < 0.02) higher (15.6 ± 18.7) in patients with GO compared with controls (5.67 ± 3.6). The mean Schirmer's (basal tear secretion) tests value was significantly reduced in Group 1 (5.25 ± 3.1 mm) compared with Group 2 (17.1 ± 5.2), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.005), suggesting inadequate tear production. The mean tear film breakup time in children was lower in patients with GO (8.3 ± 3.42 s,) compared with controls (13.2 ± 4.74 s), (P < 0.001) suggesting an unstable tear film. Decrease of corneal sensitivity (23.3%) was noted in patients with GO compared with controls. GO patients showed a significant increase of the frequency of corneal fluorescein staining (6.9%) in patients with GO compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

Patients with GO had a statistically significant higher incidence of dry eye symptoms and the increase of OSDI score. Significantly lower Schirmer's and TBUT tests results were seen in the study group when compared with the controls. These findings may indicate a tendency for dry eye in pediatric GO patients.

Risk factors for development of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis in thyroid eye disease in Japanese

PURPOSE

To analyse risk factors for the development of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) in thyroid eye disease (TED).

METHODS

This prospective, observational study included 638 eyes/sides from 319 patients with TED. The eyes were classified into two groups, based on the presence and absence of SLK. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate potential risk factors, including sex, patient age, past treatment history (steroid, orbital radiotherapy and radioiodine therapy), smoking, clinical activity score, margin reflex distance (MRD)-1 and -2, Graefe sign/lid lag, Hertel exophthalmometric results, Schirmer's test results, tear break-up time (TBUT) and tear meniscus height (TMH).

RESULTS

SLK was found in 198 eyes (31.0%) from 121 patients. Young age (OR, 0.977; P = 0.006), smoker (OR, 1.785; P = 0.009), presence of Graefe sign (OR, 2.912; P < 0.001), absence of lid lag (OR, 0.485; P = 0.031), high Hertel exophthalmometric values (OR, 1.125; P = 0.002), shorter Schirmer's test results (OR, 0.962; P < 0.001), shorter TBUT (OR, 0.815; P = 0.002) and high upper TMH (OR, 1.003; P = 0.013) were associated with the development of SLK. A high MRD-1 measurement value also tended to be associated with a risk of SLK, with an OR of 1.187 (P = 0.056).

CONCLUSION

The present study proposed several risk factors in relation to the development of SLK in TED.

A clinical study of topical treatment for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy with dry eye syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Clinically, thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients were suffered from dry eye syndrome. Only a few relevant studies were about this topic. Our study was determined to provide high-level evidence for the treatment of TAO with dry eye syndrome.

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical effects of vitamin A palmitate eye gel and sodium hyaluronate eye drop forTAO patients with dry eye syndrome.

METHODS

The study was conducted in the Ophthalmology Department of the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with the Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from May to October 2020. A total of 80 mild or moderate-to-severe TAO patients with dry eye syndrome were randomly divided into two groups. The disease stages of all subjects were inactive. Patients in group A were treated with vitamin A palmitate eye gel three times/day for one month and sodium hyaluronate eye drop in group B. The index including break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer I test (ST), corneal fluorescence staining (FL), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and adverse reactions were recorded by the same clinician at baseline and 1 month after treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS 24.0.

RESULTS

Finally, 65 subjects completed the treatment. The average age of the patients in Group A was 38.1 ± 11.4 years, and that in Group B was 37.26 ± 10.67 years. 82% of the subjects in group A were female and 74% in group B. There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline, including the value of ST, BUT, OSDI, and FL grade. After the treatment, the effective rate was 91.2% in group A, of which the value of BUT and FL grade was significantly improved (P < 0.001). The effective rate in group B was 67.7%, of which the value of OSDI score and FL grade was significantly improved (P = 0.002). In addition, the BUT value of group A was significantly longer than that of group B (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

InTAO patients with dry eye syndrome, vitamin A palmitate gel and sodium hyaluronate eye drop improved the dry eye and promoted corneal epithelial repair. Vitamin A palmitate gel improves the stability of tear film, while sodium hyaluronate eye drop improves patients' subjective discomfort.

Prevalence of Dry Eye Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors among University Students in Poland

Aim: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye symptoms (DES) among university students in Poland. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study survey was conducted among 312 Polish university students. The questionnaire consisted of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), the 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) and questions regarding medical history and risk factors. Results: According to the OSDI, more than half of respondents (57.1%) have symptoms of ocular surface disease. Time spent using electronic devices is correlated with scores gathered in both OSDI and DEQ-5 (p < 0.001). There is a statistically significant dependence between psychotropics (p = 0.002), glucocorticosteroids usage (p = 0.026), the presence of depression (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.01) or allergy (p = 0.008) and dry eye symptoms proved in both questionnaires. Respondents with refractive errors and those living in metropolitan areas have a statistically higher symptom intensity(p < 0.022). Stress felt by students is associated with higher DES risk. No correlation between DES and smoking habits was observed. The history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with the severity of DES (p = 0.036). Conclusion: Pathogenesis of DES is multifactorial and its severity depends on several factors, both genetic and environmental. Its prevalence among the young population is underestimated. Determining risk factors will enable the implementation of appropriate prophylaxis and early diagnosis.

The combination of T2-mapping value of lacrimal gland and clinical indicators can improve the stage prediction of Graves' ophthalmopathy compared to clinical activity scores

PURPOSE

To explore radiological changes of the lacrimal gland (LG) in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and whether a combination of MRI parameters and clinical indicators would be more effective in predicting individual clinical manifestation of GO compared to clinical activity scores (CAS) assessment.

METHODS

A total of 28 patients with GO (56 eyes) and 14 healthy controls (HCs) (28 eyes) were enrolled between July 2020 and July 2021. Patients were classified into the active GO group (CAS ≥ 3) and the inactive GO group (CAS < 3). MRI data and clinical data of LG were collected. The diagnostic performance of MRI parameters and models was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Logistic regression predictive models for staging GO were compared.

RESULTS

LG in GO groups had significantly higher K^trans, Ve, IAUC, ADC, and T2-mapping values (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.048, and p = 0.001, respectively), and significant lower Kep and Vp values (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). There were statistically significant differences in T2-mapping value (p < 0.001), the proportion of mild or no obvious redness of conjunctiva (p < 0.001), and the proportion of swelling of caruncle or plica (p < 0.001) between inactive and active groups. In MRI based logistic regression model, the T2-mapping value was an independent risk factor (AUC = 0.832). When combining MRI and clinical indicators, T2-mapping value and age resulted in independent risk factors (AUC = 0.928). Swelling of eyelids, redness of the conjunctiva, swelling of the conjunctiva, swelling of caruncle or plica, and spontaneous retrobulbar pain could be replaced by other objective indicators (AUC = 0.937, 0.852, 0.876, 0.896, and 0.891, respectively).

CONCLUSION

There were significant differences in MRI quantitative parameters of LG between HCs and GO patients. The combination of the T2-mapping value of LG and clinical indicators improved the stage prediction of Graves' ophthalmopathy compared to CAS, thus providing a new idea for enhancing the objectification level of GO data collection.

Ocular surface optimization before cataract surgery

The evolution of refractive cataract surgery has increased patient expectations for visual outcomes following cataract surgery. Precise biometry and keratometry are critical for accurate intraocular lens (IOL) selection and favorable surgical outcomes. In patients with the ocular surface disease and corneal pathologies, preoperative measurements can often be erroneous, leading to postoperative refractive surprises and dissatisfied patients. Conditions such as dry eye disease, epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, Salzmann's nodular dystrophy, and pterygia need to be addressed thoroughly before performing cataract surgery to optimize the ocular surface, obtain high-quality preoperative measurements, and ultimately determine the appropriate IOLs. In this review, the various ocular surface pathologies affecting cataract surgery outcomes and options for treatment are discussed and the importance of optimization of the ocular surface before cataract surgery is reviewed.

Comparison of the ocular surface microbiota between thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy patients and healthy subjects

Purpose

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is a chronic autoimmune disease. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the diversity and composition of the ocular microbiota in patients with TAO.

Methods

Patients with TAO did not receive treatment for the disease and did not have exposed keratitis. Patients with TAO (TAO group) and healthy individuals (control group) were compared. All samples were swabbed at the conjunctival vault of the lower eyelid. The V3 to V4 region of the 16S rDNA was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 Sequencing Platform. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze the differences between the groups and the correlation between ocular surface microbiota and the disease. The ocular surface microbiota of patients and healthy individuals were cultured.

Results

The ocular surface microbiota structure of TAO patients changed significantly. The average relative abundance of Bacillus and Brevundimonas increased significantly in the TAO group. Corynebacterium had a significantly decreased relative abundance (P<0.05). Paracoccus, Haemophilus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium were positively correlated with the severity of clinical manifestations or disease activity (P<0.05). Bacillus cereus and other opportunistic pathogens were obtained by culture from TAO patients.

Conclusions

This study found that the composition of ocular microbiota in patients with TAO was significantly different from that in healthy individuals. The ocular surface opportunistic pathogens, such as Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Paracoccus, and Haemophilus in TAO patients, increase the potential risk of ocular surface infection. The findings of this study provide a new avenue of research into the mechanism of ocular surface in TAO patients.

Improvement of Ocular Surface Disease by Lateral Tarsoconjunctival Flap in Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy Patients with Lid Retraction

There is a high incidence of ocular surface disease (OSD) in thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) patients as a result of incomplete eyelid closure and chronic inflammatory eyelid status. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a lateral tarsoconjunctival flap (LTF) in improving OSD in TAO patients from the perspective of correcting eyelid closures. As a study design, TAO patients were enrolled in this study to evaluate OSD perioperatively before they were scheduled for LTF surgery. Additional lid surgery was also recorded. The outcome was evaluated with perioperative OSD measurements and tear inflammatory mediators at baseline and one month and three months postoperatively. As a result, 42 patients (5 male, 37 female) underwent LTF surgery, and 13 patients received medial pretarsal support with collagen grafts. Eleven patients underwent blepharotomy, and 6 patients received Botox injections for upper lid retraction. The mean age of the participants was 46.4 years old, and the mean follow-up period was 10.6 months. Their clinical activity score (CAS) at the time of the operation was 2.1. Dry eye parameters, such as ocular surface disease index, tear breakup time, Schirmer’s I test score, and meibomian gland dropout were all significantly improved 3 months postoperatively. Tear osmolarity and inflammatory mediators in tear fluid, such as IL-6, IL-8, IL-18 and MCP-1, were also significantly improved after the procedures. After the surgery, all complications were mild and temporary. As a conclusion, LTF could provide TAO patients with both lid retraction correction and improvement of ocular surface disorders. Dry eye parameters significantly improved 3 months postoperatively. This method can serve as an alternative treatment option for lid correction in TAO patients.

Comparative Clinicopathological Evaluation of the Ocular Surface in Newly Diagnosed Patients of Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism Compared to Healthy Subjects

Introduction Thyroid eye disease is a multifactorial disorder affecting the tear film and ocular surface, which leads to dry eye. The aim of the study is to evaluate the tear function test and ocular surface changes clinically and to correlate pathologically using impression cytology in recently diagnosed cases of thyroid dysfunction, including both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients, and to compare the results with healthy subjects. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study. Thirty diagnosed patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, each within three months, and 30 healthy age-matched controls were included. All patients and controls underwent an assessment of proptosis, palpebral fissure height (PFH), tear function test, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer's test, tear break-up time (TBUT), and impression cytology for ocular surface assessment. These parameters were compared between cases and controls. Standard statistical analysis was used. Results Mean proptosis and PFH showed no significant difference among groups (P-value = .071). The mean value of OSDI was 42.33+22.67, 41.15+16.03, and 29.33+6.84 in the hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and controls groups, respectively; the difference being statistically significant (p=0.001). Mean TBUT was 7.13+3.28 sec, 6.38+2.46 sec, and 11.15+2.39 sec in hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and controls, respectively (p=0.001). The mean value of the Schirmer tear test was 12.93+5.81 mm, 13.30+4.44 mm, and 17.55+7.35 mm in hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and controls, respectively (p=0.001). Eighty percent (80%) of patients in the hyperthyroidism group had grade 2-3 squamous metaplasia as compared to 70% in hypothyroidism patients and 24.4% in controls, signifying ocular surface damage (p<0.05). Conclusions The mean PFH and proptosis did not differ between the three groups. However, increased OSDI score, decreased Schirmer's test value, decreased TBUT, and grades 2-3 squamous metaplasia in patients with thyroid dysfunction suggest the presence of dry eyes. Despite no clinically visible signs of thyroid ophthalmopathy, there is ocular surface damage right from the early stages of thyroid dysfunction, possibly attributable to the evaporative mechanism as well as ocular surface inflammation and instability of the tear film.

Correlation between extent of lacrimal gland prolapse and clinical features of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: a retrospective observational study

Background

Studies on the factors related to lacrimal gland prolapse (LGP) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) are limited. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with LGP on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its relation to TAO activity .

Methods

Thirty-six patients (72 orbits) with inactive TAO (43 orbits, Clinical Activity Score [CAS] < 3) or active TAO (29 orbits, CAS ≥3) were investigated retrospectively. All patients underwent ophthalmic evaluation and orbital magnetic resonance imaging. The severity of LGP and proptosis and the extraocular muscle (EOM) volume were measured. LGP and related factors were assessed by correlational and linear regression analyses. The value of LGP for discriminating the activity of TAO was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

The mean LGP was significantly higher in the active TAO group than in the inactive TAO group (P < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between LGP severity and the CAS (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), proptosis (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), and EOM volume (superior rectus [r = 0.49, P < 0.001], inferior rectus [r = 0.47, P < 0.001], lateral rectus [r = 0.59, P < 0.001], medial rectus [r = 0.62, P < 0.001], superior oblique [r = 0.48, P < 0.001], and all EOMs [r = 0.59, P < 0.001]). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an LGP of 13.65 mm (area under the curve, 0.824; sensitivity, 79.3%; specificity, 81.4%) to be the cut-off value that differentiated active and inactive TAO.

Conclusions

LGP measurements obtained from orbital magnetic resonance images were positively correlated with CAS, proptosis and EOM volume. The extent of LGP appears to be a good indicator of disease activity in patients with TAO.

Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Thyroid Eye Disease in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition producing ocular pain, dysmotility, and ocular structure and function changes. As disease activity changes, redness, swelling, and pain can improve, but eye comfort, appearance, and motility alterations often persist. There are limited data on chronic TED patient-reported outcomes. This study examined chronic US TED patient-reported symptoms and quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

Existing data from an online survey regarding chronic TED signs/symptoms and patient QOL were retrospectively examined. The Graves' Ophthalmopathy QOL instrument (GO-QOL; 0-100, 100 = highest QOL) evaluated overall, appearance, and vision-related QOL. Influencing factors were examined by stratifying patients into low (overall QOL ≤ 50), moderate (> 50 and < 75), and high (≥ 75) QOL categories.

RESULTS

One hundred patients (47 women, 81 Caucasian, 45.2 ± 7.6 years) were included. The duration of inactive TED was 3.0 ± 4.6 years and total duration of TED was 5.8 ± 5.9 years. Patients reported an average of 20 doctor visits/year and high prevalence of anxiety (34%) and depression (28%). Prior TED treatments for the polled population included systemic corticosteroids during active TED (25%), orbital radiation (5%), and surgery (25%). The overall GO-QOL score was 60.5 ± 21.8 (vision-related: 58.6 ± 24.0, appearance-related: 62.3 ± 25.1). Patients with low QOL more frequently reported hypothyroidism, anxiety, and a larger number of chronic TED signs/symptoms (average: 4.2). Compared to high QOL patients, low QOL patients had more pain (39% vs. 13%), blurry vision (30% vs. 17%), and diplopia (27% vs. 3%, all p ≤ 0.025). Additionally, the low QOL group more often had TED-specific surgical history (45% vs. 10%, p = 0.002), more often reported disability/unemployment (21% vs. 3%, p = 0.055), and had a higher number of doctor visits (40 vs. 5 visits/person/year, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

TED severely impacts patient QOL, despite becoming stable and chronic. Patients reported vision and appearance impairment and psychosocial impact long after acute TED had subsided.

Natural history of inflammatory and non-inflammatory dry eye in thyroid eye disease

PURPOSE

The purpose is to understand the natural history and physical findings in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients with severe dry eye symptoms (DES).

METHODS

Prospective cohort study, studying DES in TED patients over two years. Baseline data included clinical activity score (CAS), time since disease onset, punctate epithelial erosions (PEE), lagophthalmos, superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK), and marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1). Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was utilized to measure symptomatology and scores > 33 (severe) were the primary outcome measure. Multivariate logistic regression was performed on two groups (<9 months, >9 months) to assess if variables change in early versus late disease.

RESULTS

88 met the inclusion criteria. 80.7% (n = 71) were female. There were 42 patients in the group with onset of symptoms under nine months and 46 patients over nine months. Mean CAS score was greater under nine months (2.45) than over nine months (1.29) (p < .05).In the multivariate logistic regression for the group presenting with symptoms under nine months, CAS was the only significant predictor of severe OSDI. Every increase in CAS of one yielded a 2.0x increased risk of severe OSDI. For the patients over nine months from onset, PEE was the significant predictor of severe OSDI. PEE was associated with a 5.9x increased risk of severe OSDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe DES correlate with inflammatory features within the first nine months. Afterward, presence of PEE became more important. DES in TED tends to be a manifestation of orbital inflammation early in disease and exposure later.

Meibomian glands dropout in patients with inactive thyroid related orbitopathy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the structure and function of meibomian glands in patients with thyroid related orbitopathy (TRO) compared with age- and sex-matched controls without TRO.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 106 eyes of 53 patients with TRO and 106 eyes of 53 age- and sex-matched controls without TRO. Patients with TRO were assessed for thyroid hormone status, activity and severity of TRO. All participants completed OSDI questionnaires. Their meibomian glands' structure and function were assessed, including the area of meibomian gland dropout, lipid layer thickness (LLT), meibum expressibility and quality scores, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining scores. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to compare between the two groups. The correlations between the area of meibomian gland dropout with symptoms and signs of TRO were evaluated using GEE and Spearman correlation.

RESULTS

All patients with TRO had inactive status. The mean area of meibomian gland dropout was higher in the TRO group (34.5±11.2%) compared with that of controls (30.1±10.7%, P = 0.03). Both mean meibum quality (TRO, 1.6±0.7; Controls, 2.0 ±0.5) and expressibility (TRO, 1.5 ±0.7; Controls, 1.7 ±0.6) scores were slightly better in the TRO group compared with those of controls (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference in OSDI, corneal and conjunctival staining, TBUT and LLT. The area of meibomian gland dropout in patients with TRO was correlated with euthyroid status (P<0.05) and lagophthalmos (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with inactive TRO showed significantly higher meibomian gland dropout compared with that of age- and sex-matched controls without TRO.

Ocular surface changes in Graves' ophthalmopathy

Many patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) suffer from dry eye syndrome (DES), and this is one of the most common reasons of eye discomfort in patients with GO. The prevalence of DES in patients with GO is significantly higher than normal subjects. The ocular surface changes involving changes in tears, cornea, conjunctiva and glands occur in GO patients. However, the mechanism of how DES occurs in GO still remains unclear. In this review, the ocular surface changes were illustrated and analyzed the reasons for high prevalence of DES in GO patients.

Tear film break-up patterns in thyroid eye disease

Evaluation of tear film break-up pattern (TFBUP) is the main diagnostic method for tear film-oriented therapy (TFOT) of dry eye. This prospective, observational study examined TFBUPs in 154 eyes/sides from 78 patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) who met the diagnostic criteria for dry eye in Japan. TFBUPs were classified as area, line, spot, dimple, and random breaks. Results for the status of TED and dry eye were compared between the TFBUPs. Consequently, line, spot, dimple, and random breaks were observed in 80 (51.9%), 29 (18.8%), 10 (6.5%), and 35 eyes (22.7%) while no eyes showed area breaks. The random break group had the highest incidence of lid lag/Graefe sign and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) (P < 0.050). Although the incidence of each TFBUP is almost equal in patients with simple dry eye without TED, line breaks were more frequently observed in TED. In addition, while random breaks in simple dry eye are usually only associated with minor ocular surface damages, those in TED were associated with a higher incidence of concomitant SLK. These results will be helpful for understanding the etiology of dry eye in TED and for TFOT in TED.

Investigation of Meibomian Gland Function and Dry Eye Disease in Patients with Graves' Ophthalmopathy

We prospectively evaluated the relationship between meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) in 19 patients (38 eyes) with subjective dry eye symptoms, compared to 14 age-matched normal participants (14 eyes). Extraocular muscle and lacrimal gland enlargement were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ocular surface examinations included fluorescein staining for keratoconjunctival epithelial damage, tear breakup time (TBUT) evaluation, and Schirmer’s test. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated with the Dry Eye-related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS) questionnaire. Lid-margin abnormalities, meibum grade, and meiboscores were assessed using meibography. Clinical activity scores and T2 signal intensity ratios were used to define GO activity. All GO patients had obstructive MGD and 79% exhibited levator muscle enlargement. Ocular surface parameters of TBUT (p = 0.000), meibum score (p = 0.000), eyelid vasculitis (p = 0.000), meiboscore of the upper lid (p = 0.002), total meiboscores (p = 0.001), and DEQS (p = 0.000) significantly differed between GO patients and normal subjects. In addition, GO patients had significantly more abnormalities of the central region of the upper eyelid than normal subjects (p = 0.000). Thus, MGD might be related to eye discomfort and deterioration of the ocular surface in GO patients. Inflammation and morphological meibomian gland changes might be characteristic of GO.

An assessment of the ocular tear film in patients with thyroid disorders

Objective: To investigate the ocular tear film in patients with thyroid disorders using various tests. Methods: The study involved the assessment of the ocular tear film in 20 patients with thyroid disorders (6 men and 14 women) aged 18-43 years (mean±standard deviation=34.3±3.2 years). An age-matched control group consisting of 20 subjects (8 males and 12 females) ranging in age from 18 to 43 years (31.3±2.9 years) was also examined under similar conditions. All patients completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, followed by the tear ferning test within the right eye. A phenol red thread test was carried out 10 mins later followed by the fluorescein tear break-up test with a 10-min gap between the tests being implemented. Results: The median score for the Ocular Surface Disease Index (P<0.05) showed the condition of mild dry eyes [median (IQR)=15.5 (21.9)] in patients with thyroid disorders compared to the control group [5.6 (3.6)]. The mean score for the phenol red thread test within both the right and left eyes showed acceptable tear volumes of 11.7±8.1 and 10.5±7.4 mm, respectively, but this was much lower (P<0.05) compared to those recorded within the control group (22.2±6.5 and 20.7±5.2 mm, respectively). In addition, the mean for the tear break-up time (P<0.05) scores in both eyes within the patients with thyroid disorders revealed a certain degree of eye dryness (4.9±1.6 and 4.2±1.9 s), while the control group showed normal eye scores (13.2±2.6 and 12.3±2.2 s). The median score for tear ferning grades showed eye dryness [2.0 (2.2)] within the study group and normal eyes [1.2 (0.9)] within the control group. Conclusions: Patients with thyroid disorders have a significant level of eye dryness compared to normal eye subjects.

Tear Proteins Calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) and Prolactin Induced Protein (PIP) are Potential Biomarkers for Thyroid Eye Disease

There are no reliable biomarkers to predict thyroid eye disease (TED) in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) currently. Several evidences support the involvement of the lacrimal gland in TED. The aim of our study was to quantitatively correlate the changes in tear protein profile with increasing severity of TED. Tear samples were collected from four groups of patients; AITD without TED (AITD), AITD with mild TED (mild TED), AITD with severe TED (severe TED) and normal controls. A total of 72 patients were recruited for the study. In discovery phase, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) 4-plex was used for quantitative proteomics analysis. For verification of results from discovery phase, sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra (SWATH) was used to analyze an independent cohort from normal controls, AITD, mild TED and severe TED. Two proteins, S100A4 and PIP showed consistent dysregulation trends in the discovery and validation phase experiments. Our study demonstrated the differences in tear proteome across the spectrum of different severity and activity of TED in patients with AITD. Two tear proteins, S100A4 and PIP may serve as potential biomarkers to predict progression to severe TED in patients with AITD.

The Change of Lacrimal Gland Volume in Korean Patients with Thyroid-associated Ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

To describe the change of lacrimal gland volumes in Korean patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) via computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

A retrospective review of CT images from 217 TAO patients and 135 control subjects was performed. The TAO patients were diagnosed between May 2005 and May 2014 and had a CT performed on initial presentation (330 orbital CT scans). These images were compared with 270 orbital CT scans from the control group, obtained between May 2013 and May 2014. An open source DICOM viewer was used to calculate the volume of the lacrimal gland.

RESULTS

The mean volume of the lacrimal gland in TAO patients was 0.816 cm³ in the right orbit (standard deviation [SD], 0.048) and 0.811 cm³ in the left orbit (SD, 0.051), with no significant difference between right and left (p = 0.192). However, significant differences were observed between TAO patients and healthy individuals (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between mean lacrimal gland volumes of males (0.812 cm³; SD, 0.037) and females (0.816 cm³; SD, 0.029) (p = 0.513). There was a negative correlation between gland volume and age in TAO patients (Pearson r = -0.479, p = 0.00). The subjective tearing (right: r = 0.244, p = 0.018; left: r = 0.226, p = 0.024), corneal superficial punctate keratopathy (right: r = 0.192, p = 0.040; left: r = 0.206, p = 0.036), and exophthalmometry (right: r = 0.182, p = 0.032; left: r = 0.180, p = 0.046) correlated with lacrimal gland volume.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to use CT images to calculate the lacrimal gland volume of Korean TAO patients. In TAO patients, the lacrimal gland volume was notably increased compared to control subjects. The lacrimal gland volume decreased with age, but there was no difference between gender and no difference between left and right. The lacrimal gland volume correlated with subjective tearing, corneal superficial punctate keratopathy and exophthalmometry.

The 2016 European Thyroid Association/European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy Guidelines for the Management of Graves' Orbitopathy

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is the main extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease, though severe forms are rare. Management of GO is often suboptimal, largely because available treatments do not target pathogenic mechanisms of the disease. Treatment should rely on a thorough assessment of the activity and severity of GO and its impact on the patient's quality of life. Local measures (artificial tears, ointments and dark glasses) and control of risk factors for progression (smoking and thyroid dysfunction) are recommended for all patients. In mild GO, a watchful strategy is usually sufficient, but a 6-month course of selenium supplementation is effective in improving mild manifestations and preventing progression to more severe forms. High-dose glucocorticoids (GCs), preferably via the intravenous route, are the first line of treatment for moderate-to-severe and active GO. The optimal cumulative dose appears to be 4.5-5 g of methylprednisolone, but higher doses (up to 8 g) can be used for more severe forms. Shared decision-making is recommended for selecting second-line treatments, including a second course of intravenous GCs, oral GCs combined with orbital radiotherapy or cyclosporine, rituximab or watchful waiting. Rehabilitative treatment (orbital decompression surgery, squint surgery or eyelid surgery) is needed in the majority of patients when GO has been conservatively managed and inactivated by immunosuppressive treatment.

Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Are Associated with Dry Eye Syndrome

Background

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common tear film and ocular surface disease that results in discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface. Systemic diseases associated with DES include diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, thyroid disease, allergic diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain syndrome, and hyperlipidemia. Interestingly, it has been found that most of these are associated with low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) or inadequate sunlight exposure.

Methods

In this cross-sectional data analysis, noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥19 years (N = 17,542) who participated in Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2012 were included. Information regarding duration of sunlight exposure was collected from the survey participants. Serum 25(OH)D and zinc levels were measured. The confounding variables were age, gender, sunlight exposure time, region of residence, obesity, serum 25(OH)D level, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, thyroid disorder, atopic dermatitis, history of ocular surgery, regular exercise, and walking exercise.

Results

Mean serum 25(OH)D levels of subjects with and without DES were 16.90 ± 6.0 and 17.52 ± 6.07 (p<0.001). Inadequate sunlight exposure time (odds ratio [OR], 1.554; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.307–1.848), urban residence (OR, 1.669; 95% CI, 1.456–1.913), indoor occupation (OR, 1.578; 95% CI, 1.389–1.814), and low serum 25(OH)D level (OR, 1.158; 95% CI, 1.026–1.308) were the risk factors for DES. After adjusting for age, sex, obesity, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, thyroid disorder, atopic dermatitis, history of ocular surgery, regular exercise, and occupation, low serum 25(OH)D level (OR, 1.178; 95% CI, 1.010–1.372) and deficient sunlight exposure time (OR, 1.383; 95% CI, 1.094–1.749) were the risk factors for diagnosed DES.

Conclusion

Low serum 25(OH)D levels and inadequate sunlight exposure are associated with DES in Korean adults. These results suggest that sufficient sunlight exposure or vitamin D supplementation may be useful in DES treatment.

Predictive Factors of Development of Graves' Ophthalmopathy for Patients with Juvenile Graves' Disease

Background. Due to low incidence of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) among children, the manifestation is poorly analyzed, posing a risk to late identification of insidious disease. Purposes. To identify predictive factors that may influence the development of GO in pediatric and young patients with Graves' disease (GD). Methods. A cross-sectional study of patients newly diagnosed with pediatric or juvenile GD during 2002-2012 was conducted at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Ocular evaluation was based on European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy survey. The ocular manifestations were analyzed in relation to demographic, environmental, and clinical factors. Results. In total, 130 patients with juvenile GD were included; 29.2% had GO. Median age at GD onset was 17 yrs (IQR 4-29). Main symptoms of GO were eyelids retraction (73.7%), proptosis (65.8%), injection of conjunctiva (42.1%), and eyeball motility disturbance (21.1%). Major significant and independent risk factors for GO development were high initial concentration of FT4 (OR = 5.963), TTHAb (OR = 6.358), stress (OR = 6.030), and smoking (OR = 7.098). Conclusion. The major factors that could influence GO development were smoking, stress, and increased levels of initial TRAb, FT4. Slight proptosis, retraction of eyelids, and conjunctive injection were found as predominant ophthalmological symptoms in juvenile GO.