Abstract:

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune orbital disease which seriously damages visual function and craniofacial appearance. When TAO develops to compressive optic neuropathy or corneal exposure and is unable to be conservatively treated, orbital decompression surgery is the only way to save sight. With the advancement of surgical incision and procedures, more and more patients have undergone orbital decompression surgery to reconstruct craniofacial appearance. How to achieve effective orbital decompression in a most precise and safest way with minimal invasion has become a research hotspot of modern orbital surgery. Recently, with the proposition of orbital gradient decompression scheme, the development of digital orbital surgery technology, and the application of assistant devices such as endoscopes and computer navigation systems, precise customized pre-operative design for decompression range, precise intra-operative decompression with minimal invasion, and objective postoperative assessment have been achieved, which significantly improve the value of orbital decompression surgery in the treatment of TAO.

Key words: thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, orbital decompression surgery, computer navigation, endoscope