Optical coherence tomography and electrophysiological analysis of proptotic eyes due to thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE: To study the degree of morphological and functional changes in thyroid-associated ophthalmology (TAO) patients using optical coherence tomography and electrophysiological studies and investigate their clinical correlation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 40 patients with TAO and a control group with age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, proptosis evaluation, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and electrophysiological tests (pattern and multifocal electroretinograms, and visual evoked potentials). RESULTS: On multiple regression analysis, the degree of proptosis and P50 amplitude were the most important predictors of central foveal thickness (CFT) (β = − 0.56 and 0.39 and p = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively); while duration of the disease, and clinical activity score (CAS) were the most important predictors of average RNFL thickness (β = 0.67 and − 0.81 and p = 0.004 and < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the absence of fundus changes, macular thinning along with functional alterations noticed by pattern and multifocal electroretinogram could indicate presence of subclinical retinopathy in TAO cases.