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A new method of exophthalmometry
Author(s) -
Afanasyeva D.,
Gushchina M.,
Borzenok S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2016.0460
Subject(s) - cornea , medicine , line (geometry) , orthodontics , ophthalmology , computer science , mathematics , geometry
Purpose Hertel's exophthalmometer measures the position of the eyeball in relation to the lateral orbital rims and does not provide representative results in patients with orbital asymmetry. The purpose of our study was to develop an easy‐to‐use, accurate and reliable method of exophthalmometry in patients with orbital asymmetry and compare its potential with Hertel's exophthalmometer. Methods We performed the retrospective study of computerized axial tomography scans and ambulatory medical records of 30 patients: 7 patients with intact lateral orbital wall (group 1), 23 patients with its fracture (group 2). The scans were evaluated with RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software. With tools of the software we drew a straight line through the apices of styloid processeses of temporal bone. This line served as a reference line for all further measurements. On the image, where the cornea of the first eyeball was the most prominent, we constructed a perpendicular to the most prominent point of the cornea. In the same way, the distance from the most prominent point of cornea to the reference line was measured for the second eye. The difference between the lengths of two perpendiculars corresponded to the difference of protrusion between two eyes. The data of our method of computer exophthalmometry were compared with the results obtained with Hertel's exophthalmometer specified in the ambulatory medical records. Results In patients of group 1 differences of protrusion between two eyes measured with two methods were similar. In contrary to the Hertel's exophthalmometer, the computer exophthalmometry showed reliable results in patients of group 2. Conclusions The developed method of computered exophthalmometry is easy‐to‐use and allows getting accurate and reliable data even in patients with different abnormalities of orbital area, in contrary to the Hertel's exophthalmometer.