The use of thymoxamine in eyelid retraction.

Abstract

We observed substantial narrowing in 75% of fissures in patients with various types of lid retraction after topical application of aqueous 0.5% thymoxamine (moxisylyte). Even contralateral normal-appearing fissures in thyroid patients responded in this manner. The nonresponders in the lid retraction group included a patient with an orbital pseudotumor and patients with long-standing and stable euthyroid eye disease. No normal subjects' fissures responded greatly to thymoxamine. A substantial reduction in palpebral fissures was seen in all patients with thick extraocular muscles and in 14 of 18 (78%) of all fissures of thyroid patients; the average response was 2.3 mm. This effect may last for five hours after thymoxamine administration. Thymoxamine may be of use as a diagnostic test for thyroid eye disease, and if it can be modified to cause less ocular irritation, it may be beneficial in the medical treatment of eyelid retraction.

• Authors: R S Dixon, R L Anderson, M U Hatt
• Journal: Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (Arch Ophthalmol) Vol. 97 Issue 11 Pg. 2147-50 (Nov 1979) ISSN: 0003-9950 [Print] United States
• PMID: 159683 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Moxisylyte

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Eyelid Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Moxisylyte (therapeutic use)
• Thyroid Diseases (complications)