Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy

Abstract Background Patients with thyroid eye disease may develop dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), which is commonly treated via orbital decompression surgery. This study aims to identify preoperative factors that can predict postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with DON a...

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Main Authors: Forrest W. Fearington, Lazaro R. Peraza, Gabriel A. Hernandez-Herrera, Andrew S. Awadallah, Janalee K. Stokken, Lilly H. Wagner, Elizabeth A. Bradley, Marius N. Stan, Erick D. Bothun, Andrea A. Tooley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Thyroid Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-025-00248-5
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author Forrest W. Fearington
Lazaro R. Peraza
Gabriel A. Hernandez-Herrera
Andrew S. Awadallah
Janalee K. Stokken
Lilly H. Wagner
Elizabeth A. Bradley
Marius N. Stan
Erick D. Bothun
Andrea A. Tooley
author_facet Forrest W. Fearington
Lazaro R. Peraza
Gabriel A. Hernandez-Herrera
Andrew S. Awadallah
Janalee K. Stokken
Lilly H. Wagner
Elizabeth A. Bradley
Marius N. Stan
Erick D. Bothun
Andrea A. Tooley
author_sort Forrest W. Fearington
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Patients with thyroid eye disease may develop dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), which is commonly treated via orbital decompression surgery. This study aims to identify preoperative factors that can predict postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with DON and to classify recovery rates based on these prognostic factors. Methods We retrospectively assessed thirty-two patients (51 orbits) diagnosed with DON who underwent orbital decompression. Results Univariate and multivariate mixed effects analysis revealed that preoperative BCVA was the strongest predictor of postoperative BCVA (p < 0.0001). Other significant prognostic factors were extraocular muscle hypertrophy (p = 0.01), visual field mean deviation (p = 0.009), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (p = 0.01), and afferent pupillary defect (p < 0.0001). We then stratified outcomes by the strongest prognostic factor, preoperative BCVA, which demonstrated that 17 of 19 (89.5%) orbits with preoperative BCVA < logMAR 0.20 (20/32 Snellen) achieved acceptable final vision (defined as better than logMAR 0.40 or 20/50 Snellen), compared to 16 of 20 (80%) orbits with preoperative BCVA logMAR 0.20–0.60 (20/32–20/80 Snellen), and only 3 of 11 (27.3%) orbits with preoperative BCVA > logMAR 0.60 (20/80 Snellen). Patients with preoperative BCVA of logMAR 0.60 (20/80 Snellen) or better had > 80% chance of recovering with acceptable final vision after surgery, compared to a < 30% chance for patients with preoperative BCVA worse than logMAR 0.60 (20/80 Snellen). Conclusions These results highlight preoperative BCVA as the strongest predictor of DON outcome and suggest that earlier intervention prior to substantial BCVA deterioration may yield better results. Level of evidence: 3 Retrospectively Registered.
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spelling doaj-art-dd86600151b245f8b692abf95a89c1cc2025-08-20T03:37:20ZengBMCThyroid Research1756-66142025-07-011811910.1186/s13044-025-00248-5Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathyForrest W. Fearington0Lazaro R. Peraza1Gabriel A. Hernandez-Herrera2Andrew S. Awadallah3Janalee K. Stokken4Lilly H. Wagner5Elizabeth A. Bradley6Marius N. Stan7Erick D. Bothun8Andrea A. Tooley9Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineDepartment of Otolaryngology– Head & Neck Surgery, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Otolaryngology– Head & Neck Surgery, Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineDepartment of Otolaryngology– Head & Neck Surgery, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic– RochesterDepartment of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic– RochesterDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic– RochesterDepartment of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic– RochesterDepartment of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic– RochesterAbstract Background Patients with thyroid eye disease may develop dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), which is commonly treated via orbital decompression surgery. This study aims to identify preoperative factors that can predict postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with DON and to classify recovery rates based on these prognostic factors. Methods We retrospectively assessed thirty-two patients (51 orbits) diagnosed with DON who underwent orbital decompression. Results Univariate and multivariate mixed effects analysis revealed that preoperative BCVA was the strongest predictor of postoperative BCVA (p < 0.0001). Other significant prognostic factors were extraocular muscle hypertrophy (p = 0.01), visual field mean deviation (p = 0.009), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (p = 0.01), and afferent pupillary defect (p < 0.0001). We then stratified outcomes by the strongest prognostic factor, preoperative BCVA, which demonstrated that 17 of 19 (89.5%) orbits with preoperative BCVA < logMAR 0.20 (20/32 Snellen) achieved acceptable final vision (defined as better than logMAR 0.40 or 20/50 Snellen), compared to 16 of 20 (80%) orbits with preoperative BCVA logMAR 0.20–0.60 (20/32–20/80 Snellen), and only 3 of 11 (27.3%) orbits with preoperative BCVA > logMAR 0.60 (20/80 Snellen). Patients with preoperative BCVA of logMAR 0.60 (20/80 Snellen) or better had > 80% chance of recovering with acceptable final vision after surgery, compared to a < 30% chance for patients with preoperative BCVA worse than logMAR 0.60 (20/80 Snellen). Conclusions These results highlight preoperative BCVA as the strongest predictor of DON outcome and suggest that earlier intervention prior to substantial BCVA deterioration may yield better results. Level of evidence: 3 Retrospectively Registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-025-00248-5Dysthyroid optic neuropathyCompressive optic neuropathyThyroid eye diseaseOrbital decompression surgery
spellingShingle Forrest W. Fearington
Lazaro R. Peraza
Gabriel A. Hernandez-Herrera
Andrew S. Awadallah
Janalee K. Stokken
Lilly H. Wagner
Elizabeth A. Bradley
Marius N. Stan
Erick D. Bothun
Andrea A. Tooley
Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
Thyroid Research
Dysthyroid optic neuropathy
Compressive optic neuropathy
Thyroid eye disease
Orbital decompression surgery
title Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
title_full Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
title_fullStr Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
title_full_unstemmed Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
title_short Predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
title_sort predicting visual acuity recovery in orbital decompression surgery for dysthyroid optic neuropathy
topic Dysthyroid optic neuropathy
Compressive optic neuropathy
Thyroid eye disease
Orbital decompression surgery
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-025-00248-5
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