Abstract:AIM:To study the effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy and extraocular muscle surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) . METHODS:Twenty-six patients(42 eyes) with TAO who visited our department were given methylprednisolone pulse therapy or extraocular muscle surgery between Jan.2008 and Dec.2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Pre-operative and post-operative IOP in both primary gaze and up gaze were all studied. RESULTS:In the 16 patients treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the mean pre-treatment IOP was 21.13±4.10mmHg in primary gaze and 23.75±5.67mmHg in upgaze. After treatment the mean IOP was 16.81±3.69mmHg(P<0.05)and 18.5±4.03mmHg(P<0.05)respectively. The mean pre-operative IOP in the 10 eyes who had extraocular muscle recession was 18.4±2.49 mmHg in primary gaze and 24.7±3.63mmHg in upgaze. The post-operative IOP was 17.3±1.55mmHg(P>0.05)and 18.6±2.2mmHg(P<0.01)respectively. In patients with a pre-operative IOP≥21mmHg were observed a greater reduction in IOP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed a significant reduction in IOP in the two groups of patients after treatment for TAO, however no significant difference was found in IOP in primary gaze after extraocular muscle surgery.