The Impact of Hyperthyroidism on Intraocular Pressure and Dry Eye at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
Introduction hyperthyroidism arise due to immune-mediated inflammation and fibrosis of the orbital tissues, often leading to distressing symptoms and functional limitations. TED manifests with a variety of eye signs, including proptosis, dry eye, upper lid retraction, diminished vision, and ptosis.[16] These signs can range from mild discomfort to severe vision-threatening complications, making early identification and management essential. While TED is well-recognized, its prevalence and severity can vary significantly across different demographic and clinical groups, including age and gender. Understanding these variations can aid in targeted interventions and optimized care Materials and Methods This was an observational, cross‑sectional study conducted at a tertiary eye care hospital in North India. Patients diagnosed with TED as per the Bartley and Gorman criteria amongst those who presented to the out‑patient department from August 2017 to January 2019 were included in the study. If lid retraction was seen, the presence of laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction, exophthalmos, optic nerve dysfunction or extra ocular muscle involvement was considered as TED. In case of no lid retraction in a patient with laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction, the presence of exophthalmos, optic nerve involvement or restrictive myopathy was considered as TED. Results The most common presenting eye sign was diminished vision, observed in 66.7% of hyperthyroid patients, which was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). Other frequently reported signs included ptosis (65.6%) and proptosis (58.9%), both of which were also statistically significant. Intraocular pressure was significantly higher in participants with hyperthyroidism compared to the normal reference range. The mean IOP was 19.4 ± 2.8 mmHg, with 28% of participants exhibiting IOP levels above 21 mmHg. This elevation was more pronounced in individuals with longer disease duration (>2 years), suggesting a potential link between chronic hyperthyroidism and elevated IOP. Conclusion Thyroid eye disease affects the majority of thyroid disease patients. The ocular manifestation ranges from mildest to the most severe form. Early diagnosis and intervention can be beneficial in saving sight and globe. Hence a proper referral system between ophthalmologists and physician is mandatory. Also, many thyroid disorders are first time diagnosed form ocular manifestations so a regular health check-up including eye check-up is needed to pick the cases in early stage and referred among each other for better treatment outcome.