Determination of normal values for eye protrusion in Bushehr port population

Exophthalmos is the protrusion of eye from the orbital cavity. It may be due to inflammation، infection، tumors and thyroid disorders. Normal value of ocular protrusion is different in each population. It is related to age، gender and ethnicity. The measurement of eye protrusion is helpful in the diagnosis and management of exophthalmos. The aim of this study is to determine the normal values for eye protrusion in Bushehr port population. In this study، 1303 subjects of healthy population (15-75 years old) in Bushehr were randomly selected from eccompannies persons of patients that referred to our endocrine clinic. Subjects with previous history of orbital surgery، eye trauma، strabismus، myopia (>-2 Diopter)، orbital inflammatory disease، skull and face abnormality were excluded. Extent of eye protrusion was measured by one endocrinologist using Hertel exophthalmometry. The mean protrusion values for right eye and left eye were 17. 9±11. 55 and 18. 08±1. 5mm، respectively. The exophthalmometric measurements were lower in right eye than left eye (p<0. 0001). Also the mean eye protrusion decreased with increasing in age (p<0. 0001). The upper limit of eye protrusion in healthy adult was 21. 11 mm. The eye protrusion more than 21. 11 mm should be considered as exophthalmos in Bushehr port population.