Changes of vision and refraction in patients with thyroid pathology

Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between thyroid pathology and visual acuity, including refraction disorders.
Material and methods. The data of visual acuity, refraction, and exophthalmos were analyzed, which were obtained from 105 patients with thyroid pathology. The data were compared with the findings of 23 healthy persons of similar age (control group).
Results. In case of thyroid pathology, visual acuity (right eye 0.71±0.035, left eye 0.73±0.045) was worse than in the control group (right eye 0.89±0.06, P<0.05; left eye 0.92±0.07, P<0.05). Myopia dominated in patients with thyroid pathology (refraction: right eye M 1.1±0.61 D, left eye M 1.0±0.64 D). In patients with exophthalmos of ≥17 mm, visual acuity was significantly worse (right eye 0.68±0.04, left eye 0.68±0.03) than in persons of the control group (right eye 0.89±0.06, P<0.05; left eye 0.92±0.07, P<0.05), and myopic refraction was found more frequently (right eye M 1.3±0.48 D, left eye M 1.3±0.56 D). Visual acuity was significantly better in patients when exophthalmos was <17 mm (right eye 0.80±0.05, P<0.05; left eye 0.80±0.05, P<0.05) than in cases when exophthalmos was ≥17 mm.
Conclusions. Thyroid pathology and exophthalmos have an influence on visual acuity and refraction. In case of thyroid pathology, visual acuity appears to be worse than in the control group, and myopic refraction is more frequent. Visual acuity was found to be worse in patients with exophthalmos being ≥17 mm than in the control group, and myopic refraction was found to be more frequent.