Background

To prospectively investigate the safety, tolerability and 24-h intraocular pressure (IOP) patterns in patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) using a contact lens sensor (CLS).

Design

Prospective study.

Participants

Ten patients with established TED.

Methods

Ten eyes of 10 patients were prospectively evaluated in an ambulatory 24-h IOP monitoring session using the CLS (Sensimed AG, Lausanne, Switzerland). Patients pursued daily activities, and sleep behaviour was uncontrolled.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of adverse events (AEs) and tolerability (scale of 0-10, increasing intolerance) were assessed. IOP patterns were evaluated using a cosinor rhythmometry model, and linear regression slopes were constructed for the transition from wake/sitting (W/S) to sleep/supine (S/S) and vice versa.

Results

Mean age was 61.8 ± 21.6 years, and 90% of patients were female. Main AEs were blurred vision (50%), conjunctival hyperaemia (100%) and superficial punctate keratitis (20%). Tolerability of the lens was found to be 1.5 ± 0.7. Positive linear slopes of the CLS signal from wake to sleep were detected (18.0 ± 43.8 arbitrary units [a.u.]; P = 0.254), whereas at the transition from S/S to W/S a significant decrease (-62.9 ± 56.8 a.u.; P = 0.010) was found. Five patients (50%) had a significant nocturnal/sleep acrophase with the peak occurring at 6:30 a.m. The mean amplitude of the 24-h curves was 102.2 ± 52.6 a.u.

Conclusions

In patients with TED, the CLS provides a safe and well-tolerated approach to 24-h IOP monitoring. After modelling the 24-h IOP curves, TED patients were found to have a morning acrophase.