 of antibodies targeting calsequestrin and collagen XIII and the severity of UER in these patient groups. Calsequestrin is highly expressed in the EOM[@b32-opth-4-417] including, presumably, the levator palpebrae superioris (LPS) muscle. Type XIII collagen, expressed in fibroblast cell membranes, is also widely expressed in the adult and developing human eye.[@b36-opth-4-417] Although yet to be proven by histological analysis, our findings suggest that chronic UER and lag may reflect autoimmunity against calsequestrin and collagen XIII in the LPS muscle.

Ophthalmopathy in patients with thyroiditis
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Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) and silent thyroiditis (ST) are the most common causes of transient thyrotoxicosis. In both, hyperthyroidism is the result of rapidly progressive thyroid follicular cell injury and the release of large amounts of thyroid hormone into the systemic circulation. Hypothyroidism, a consequence of thyroid cell damage and the subsequent depletion of thyroid hormone stores, often follows. SAT is caused by viral induced inflammation of the thyroid gland. Sporadic ST, on the other hand, appears to be an autoimmune disease. There have been reports of the development of TSH-r positive Graves' hyperthyroidism and ophthalmopathy following SAT.[@b37-opth-4-417],[@b38-opth-4-417] However, Amato et al[@b39-opth-4-417] recently reported the case of a Caucasian male who developed euthyroid Graves' disease after proven SAT in the absence of TSH-r antibodies but with detectable eye muscle antibodies. This prompted us to study the prevalence of eye and eyelid signs and positive eye muscle and collagen XIII antibody tests in 11 patients with transient thyroiditis (5 with SAT and 6 with ST), 11 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis as chronic thyroiditis controls and in 12 age and sex-matched healthy controls.[@b5-opth-4-417] In summary, 5 patients with transient thyroiditis and 5 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were found, at first visit or on follow-up, to have developed o