[Value of electrophysiology in ophthalmologic monitoring of patients with endocrine orbitopathy].

BACKGROUND

Patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy may suffer from optic nerve involvement. Different ophthalmological examinations reveal the stage of this disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a retrospective study 27 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy were examined. Best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field, motility and thickness of ocular muscle were determined. Registration of visual evoked cortical potentials (P-VEP) and pattern electroretinograms (P-ERG) were performed regularly.

RESULTS

In our study group severe damage of the optic nerve could be avoided by short examination intervals and early treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular controls of P-VEP reveal optic nerve involvement at an early stage, at which visual acuity might not be altered. Therefore, this electrophysiological examination should be used in controlling patients suffering from Graves' ophthalmopathy.