Regression of ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease following thyroidectomy. A systematic study of changes of ocular signs.

A report is given of 4 patients with progressive ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease treated by total or subtotal thyroidectomy. The post-operative ophthalmological examination revealed evident regression of ocular symptoms and signs. Serial examinations of the ocular motility, the field of binocular single vision, as well as ultrasonic study were performed and gave an objective support to the improvement of the ocular disturbances. The symptomatical and presumed causal treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy is reviewed and the possible immunological basis is discussed. It is concluded that a reduction in thyroid mass seems to diminish ophthalmic manifestations of Graves' disease.