Objective: To determine whether strabismus surgery during active thyroid ophthalmopathy is beneficial for selected patients.
Design: Case series.
Participants: Eight patients with severe restrictive strabismus due to thyroid ophthalmopathy underwent early strabismus surgery and were followed for a minimum of 16 months after their initial surgery.
Intervention: All eight patients underwent strabismus surgery while their thyroid ophthalmopathy was evolving.
Main outcome measures: Success was determined by the ability to fuse in the primary position at distance and near without an abnormal head position, and the absence of vision-threatening complications related to strabismus surgery.
Results: All eight patients achieved successful long-term alignment. Four patients (50%) required more than one operation.
Conclusions: Strabismus surgery during active thyroid ophthalmopathy can result in long-term stable alignment and may be a useful alternative in selected patients with marked disability due to thyroid ophthalmopathy.