Graves disease symptoms eye problems

Common Questions and Answers about Graves disease symptoms eye problems

graves-disease

Avatar n tn 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.
Avatar f tn t had any eye problems and never knew anyone that did have eye problems with Graves Disease, but it is a scary thing to think about! Also, my doctor told me that eye problems generally occur within 6 months of treatment for Graves so since I have not had eye problems in the 5-6 years that I have had this disease the chance for me to get it, gets less and less likely.
Avatar f tn Most people have both sets of problems, but some with thyroid problems never develop eye problems, and some people with the eye problems never develop the thyroid problems. Sometimes onset can be months or years apart. Hope that helps you a little. Please follow up with your eye doc. Both docs are probably correct in their individual diagnosis. Close medical followup early in the Eye Disease is important for getting you back to normal down the road. Good luck.
Avatar n tn 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.
Avatar n tn I was diagnosed with Graves in 2007. From all that I read, many Graves people can have eye involvement. The eye bulging form is the most severe phase and from what I read, very rare. Even though we all worry about it, that type of involvement effects a small portion of Graves people and is more common amonst smokers. I also learned that most people with Graves do have some type of eye involvement but most of it is minor such as dry eyes giving you that gritty feeling and mild swelling.
Avatar f tn 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.
522070 tn?1233756919 Treatment of hyperthyroidism does not treat Graves Eye Disease. The symptoms of GED are frequent tearing (I developed eye problems months before I developed thyroid problems, I thought it was allergies), gritty feeling in the eyes. As the eye disease progresses, the eyes can bulge out of the sockets, lid lag and retraction can develop and double vision can develop. As far as anit-thyroid meds go, most docs will treat with them for 12-18 months before recommending RAI or surgery.
Avatar n tn Question if anyone knows- once Graves eye disease is done is it gone forever? Will the swelling and eye problems come back?
Avatar n tn Usually, surgery is the preferable option if someone has Graves thyroid disease (because RAI can sometimes make eye disease worse if already present). Graves Eye Disease is caused by different antibodies than the thyroid disease. They are related, but having one doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the other.
110220 tn?1309306861 I was diagnosed with Graves disease and I have read everything regard the disease and what I find most fearful is the eye issues that can result with Graves Disease. many articles indicate only 30% of people with Graves disease have issues with their eyes. Is this correct? I am seeing an eye doctor in a couple of weeks? I do feel grit in one of my eyes from time to time. This is pretty nerve racking.
877337 tn?1249844450 Regarding the eye problems often associated with Graves - only about 10% of Graves/Thyroid patients develop Graves Eye Disease. The eye disease is actually caused by different antibodies than the ones that cause the thyroid problems. Some people have the eye problems without ever having thyroid problems. Most have thyroid problems an no eye problems. The eye problems usually start with a lot (almost constant) tearing and a dry, gritty feeling on they eye surface.
666116 tn?1278282694 I've had the TT in January 2010 due to Graves disease and Papillary Thryoid Cancer. I was assured by my endocrinolgist and surgeon that after the surgery my Graves symptoms will not come back - and they haven't. My eye issues were minor (gritty, dry, sand in eye feeling and very little enlargement) but they have gotten much better after the surgery.
Avatar f tn What kind of eye problems do you have? Thyroid eye disease symptoms first start as a lot of tearing and a dry, gritting feeing in the eyes. Later symptoms include the bulging eyeballs that most have heard about, and sometimes, double vision. It isn't normally associated with poor vision unless caused by double vision or pressure on the optic nerve(which is very rare).
Avatar n tn I have been hypothyroid for years and on Armour Thyroid. All of a sudden I have been diagnosed with Graves Disease, Thyroid Eye Disease and SVT. I'm trying to figure out how all of this is happening. I've always gone to an endocrinologist and my lab tests have always been good. I have never been hyperthyroid so I can't understand how I could have Graves disease.
Avatar n tn why after almost two years do I still have graves symptoms.
Avatar n tn I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have graves & thyroid eye disease too. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. If you have active thyroid eye disease, please, do not have any more RAI, it will worsen you eyes. You have a complicated case due to Graves & toxic nodules. The Graves may be treated with the RAI but the toxic nodules can still be excreting thyroid hormone keeping you hyper.! Are you seeing an endocrinologist or a thyroid specialist?
534194 tn?1213416842 I had a little bit of swollen eyelids, but more of the usual symptoms of Graves Eye disease - eyelid retraction, eye bulging, lots of tearing and a gritty feeling. It is all caused by a fatty type substance being deposited in the muscles behind the eyes. Sounds like you have a good ophthalmologist already, that is am important step in treatment. Steroids like prednisone are prescribed by some doctors in an effort to shrink the muscle tissue, but my doctor didn't take that route.
489924 tn?1209491123 I was diagnosed with Graves a little over 3 years ago, I was treated with anti-thyroid drugs (tapazole) for about 14 months. The ATD had my hyper symptoms under control within about 2-3 months. I was pretty far hyper - had ignored symptoms for months, including resting heart rate over 100 most of the time, was so emotional and a nervous wreck.
Avatar n tn For the last several months I have been experiencing very bad eye problems including eye infections, some vomiting, increased bowels, heart racing episodes frequently, urinating frequently, fevers, and the list goes on and on. I asked my current Endocrinologist about this and I told him I thought that all of these issues were related to my thyroid (I didn't even know about Graves disease when I asked him these questions).
Avatar n tn Some of your complaints could be from other problems, but when you throw in the eye problem, the other symptoms make it look like your levels may be going up and down, or you are technically "within range" but out of balance enough to cause symptoms. You may be having trouble converting T4 to T3, possibly. It would be a good idea to have your adrenal glands checked as well. Adrenal problems often have symptoms similar to thyroid conditions.
Avatar f tn Hi Cathy- I feel your pain. TED is so awful I can't stand it... I had a TT in Nov and my eyes are a lot better surprisingly. I took flaxseed oil everyday (still do) to help with lubrication and used preservative free eye drops a lot. Elevating your head slightly at night and keeping hydrated also helped them- but I still have light sensitivity and wear sunglasses alot. Hang in there...its a brutal disease. If you find that magic pill- let us all know!