Graves disease and the eyes
Common Questions and Answers about Graves disease and the eyes
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They are mostly smokers and most problems with your eyes develop within 6 months of your treatment of Graves disease. Anything is possible and anyone could develop problems with their eyes but the majority does not. The longer you have had Graves disease without having problems with your eyes the less likely it is to happen.
I believe the statistic is less than 50% of those who have Graves thyroid disease develop any symptoms of Graves Eye Disease. Each is caused by different sets of antibodies. Some people get eye disease without ever having thyroid problems. And, of those with Graves/thyroid who do develop eye disease, only about 5% of those ever develop serious enough eye problems (bulging, eyelid retraction, double vision, optic nerve issues) to warrant surgery.
Hi - I am undergoing tests for Graves of the eyes. My eyes are so dry and they buldge. Are you a smoker? Smoking makes the eye disease worse. It is very common to have Graves of the eyes if you have Graves Thyroid disease. My doctor told me that he would treat me with prednisone to get the swelling behind my eyes down and last resort would be surgery. You probably need to research an eye doctor that specializes in Graves. Where do you live? My doctor is at Rush Hospital in Chicago.
I was diagnosed in January and saw eye doctor in February. The eye involvement is called Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) and there is much info on the web. The only treatment that I know of is drops for the dry feeling and sleeping elevated at night. You can try cold compresses for the swelling. Eye involvement has to be one of the most scariest parts of Graves disease. Hang in there!
The antibodies that cause Graves Eye Disease (or thyroid eye disease) are totally different from the antibodies that cause either Graves Disease (thyroid) or Hashimotos. Your thyroid levels won't have an impact on your eyes. In fact, some people have the eye problems without ever having thyroid problems.
That being said, if you have one of the autoimmune thyroid diseases (Hashis or Graves), you could also have thyroid eye disease.
My interenist suspected Graves, ergo the reason for the tests. My concern is that I have some of the classic symptoms of Graves, but my test results show me to be in the normal range.
I'm wondering if others have had their values fall in the normal range but second level testing (e.g., radioactive iodine test) revealed a problem.
Hi, I am a 28 year old woman and was diagnosed with graves disease 3 years ago. I have commented o many forums regarding my problem but would like your advice. I was treated with radio active iodine in 2006 and then became hypothyroid, I now take 150mg of levothyroxine daily. I have never suffered from graves opthalmology as far as i'm aware.
For the last 6 months I have had a chronic daily headache. This started 3 days after purchasing new glasses.
The TSH is a little low (too much thyroid hormone replacement), but not to the point I would expect thyroid-eye disease. Would test TSI and TBII - the immune system markers of Graves as the eye involvement can occur any time -- even after treatment (although the risk is much lower with surgery than after RAI). A careful eye check is appopriate.
I stop my pill for three weeks, but when i went back for the results and to schedule the appointment for the radiation i got scare,He told me i have severe graves disease,. I don't know if it's just to scare me. so that day he put me back on my meds and i got swollen, my eyes were red, my lips got purple, i have palpitations and my eyes start to pop out again, but i don't know if it's the meds or that i was with out my pills for three weeks.
You have to be proactive and assertive with doctors about thyroid disease for some reason. The migraines, the pressure behind the eyes, the muscle weakness... they are all symptoms of Grave's and that could be all that's wrong with you... however, you MUST get a second opinion, and you'll probably need a third and fourth, too.
They have recommended me to use the eye drops like artificial tears during day and refresh pm ointment for the night and I am using them. Is there a way that I can reduce the bulging eyes and get my eyes normal without surgery??
Also, Since november 2010 my thyroid conditions have changed and I now have hypothyroid. Ever since the transformation of thyroid levels I have gained almost like 20 pounds of weight with in a month's time.
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