[Graves' ophthalmopathy--a prospective clinical study].

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder, progressive and with a variable evolution. In 10-25% of cases, thyroid ophthalmopathy (or dysthyroid ophthalmopathy) occurs in the absence of both clinical and biochemical evidence of thyroid dysfunction. In patients with Graves' disease, ocular modification may precede, coincide with or follow of Graves' disease. Dysthyroid ophthalmopathy has in 85% of cases bilateral proptosis more than a half in unilateral proptosis.