Orbital Decompression

What is Orbital Decompression?

Orbital decompression is either the partial or complete removal of one or more  of the four walls of the eye socket and is primarily performed on patients with Graves’ disease also known as thyroid eye disease.

Graves’ disease frequently includes some combination of thyroid disease, bulging of the eyes or exophthalmos, lid lag, retraction of the eye lids and double vision or diplopia and is due to a lymphocytic infiltrate involving the eye muscles and fat. As this process progresses, the fixed orbital walls are unable to accommodate the enlarging eye. More rarely, this expansion compresses the optic nerve causing the patient to first loose color vision, then peripheral vision, and finally results in blindness (Schaefer, 2003).

Early and mild thyroid eye disease is often successfully treated by suppressing the primary thyroid disease either with medications such as oral steroids and/or radioactive iodine. As the disease worsens, though, the cornea is exposed due to retraction of the eyelids. At this point, treatment is about protecting the eye so many ophthalmologists will first recommend a surgical lengthening of the eyelids. But with bulging eyes, the patient often finds their appearance unacceptable, and orbital decompression becomes necessary. Dr. Alford is a leader in this field. In his opinion, once double vision or any compromise of vision occurs, orbital decompression is the only option. He reserves radiation therapy of the orbit for patients who either refused surgery or are unable to tolerate surgical treatment.

More recently, Dr. Alford performs his orbital decompression surgeries via an intranasal endoscope route with removal of one or more walls of the eye socket . The advantage of this approach is that it is successful from both a cosmetic and functional standpoint as it both protects the eye from vision loss and restores the eye’s normal appearance. No other procedure or treatment does both.

Call today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eugene Alford:  713-532-3223