A Stare With a Catch

neuro ophthalmology
Patient Demographics
Age: 71 years
Gender: Female
History of Presenting Complaint

Presented with a several-month history of a "staring" appearance to both eyes, noticed by the patient and her family, along with mild ocular grittiness.

Past Medical History
  • Known Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism), diagnosed several years prior to presentation
  • Current smoker — a significant modifiable risk factor for the severity of thyroid eye disease
Examination Findings

Visual Acuity

OD: 6/6. OS: 6/6

Pupils

Equal and reactive, no RAPD

Extraocular Movements

No upgaze bilaterally; other directions of gaze full

Anterior Segment

Lids: bilateral upper lid retraction, most prominent in primary gaze and on attempted upgaze; lids "catch up" with the limbus (retraction largely resolves) on attempted downgaze

Posterior Segment

No evidence of compressive optic neuropathy at this time (normal VA, no RAPD, no colour vision deficit)

Which investigations would you choose?
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Thyroid function tests
TSH-receptor antibody (TRAb) testing
Colour vision and formal visual acuity assessment
Clinical photography and orthoptic motility assessment
Lumbar puncture for oligoclonal bands

0 of 4 investigations selected

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