Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Ocular changes and ocular symptoms may be encountered in patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. However, the data concerning the effects of thyroid disorders on intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and retinal thickness (RT) are very rare. Here, we aimed to evaluate the alterations in IOP, CCT, and RT in patients with euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).

Methods: Twenty-five subjects with euthyroid AIT were included into the study. The patients were compared with age and sex-matched 40 healthy subjects. A detailed ophthalmologic examination including the IOP, CCT, and RT was performed in both groups.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in mean right RT, left RT, right CCT, and left CCT between two groups (P>0.05 for all parameters). Also, no significant difference was found between groups concerning right and left IOP (P>0.05 for all parameters). In patients groups, left RT was significantly higher in patient with TSH >2.5 μIU/ml than those of TSH <2.5 μIU/ml (294.85±23.58 μm vs 261.50±21.70 μm, P=0.003). A positive correlation was observed between left RT and TSH levels (r=0.269, P=0.033). No significant correlation was found between free triiodothyronine levels, and right CCT, right RT, right IOP, left CCT, left RT, and left IOP levels (P>0.05 for all parameters). Also, free tetraiodothyronine levels were not significantly correlated with right CCT, right RT, right IOP, left CCT, left RT, and left IOP levels (P>0.05 for all parameters).

Conclusion: An increase in IOP in Graves’ ophthalmopathy is a well-known entity. In literature, hypothyroidism seems to cause a reversible increase in CCT and IOP. In this study, we observed no significant difference between groups concerning IOP, CCT, and RT. So, further studies with larger sample size are needed to evaluate IOP, CCT, and RT in patients with euthyroid AIT.