Abstract

Objective: To evaluate ocular surface and tear film abnormalities, CCT (central corneal thickness) and CCET (central corneal epithelial thickness) in patients with non-exophthalmic Graves (GD).
Materials-Methods: This prospective study was conducted in non-exophthalmic patients referred to our ophthalmology outpatient clinic for GD in 2023. The dry eye of all patients was evaluated with tear break-up time (TBUT) and the Schirmer test. CCT (central corneal thickness) and CCET (central corneal epithelial thickness) were evaluated with Spectral-Domain anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT).
Results: Graves group of 26 (12 females, 14 males) and a control group of 26 healthy individuals (13 females, 13 males) were included in the study. While the mean age was 43.27 ± 15.25 years in the Graves group, it was 41.69 ± 13.4 years in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender (p=0.694, p=0.781 respectively). Compared to the control group, TBUT values of both eyes were statistically significantly lower in the Graves group (p0.05).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that patients with GD have tear film abnormalities before Graves orbitopathy (GO) develops or even in inactive GO. These results highlight the importance of regular ocular surface evaluation in patients with GD, regardless of the presence of GO.

Key words: Graves orbitopathy; inactive Graves orbitopathy; dry eye; central corneal thickness; central corneal epithelial thickness