Everything you need to know about thyroid eyes disease. Thyroid disease is a hormonal disorder caused by the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck malfunctioning (thyroid).
When the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones for the body, it causes a variety of health problems, one of which is thyroid eyes.
People who have already been diagnosed with a severe thyroid problem may develop the syndrome.
It is often the first symptom that patients bring to the doctor’s attention.
What are the symptoms of thyroid eyes?
The immune system assaults the muscles and other tissues surrounding the eyes, resulting in thyroid eyes.
It causes the delicate cells to become inflamed, resulting in a variety of eye-related problems.
It causes the eyeballs to bulge out of their sockets in most cases.
The autoimmune eye disorder induced by thyroid disease is known by a variety of names.
Some of them are minor, while others are rather serious.
They are as follows:
- Thyroid eye disease, sometimes abbreviated as TED1
- Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO)
- Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO)
- Grave’s orbitopathy
Different treatments can be used to address the condition’s symptoms. They can aid in the prevention of vision loss, which is one of the most serious symptoms of thyroid eye disease.
Thyroid eyes can also be noticed in association with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease, in addition to thyroid illness.
Indications of a thyroid eye disease
Thyroid eyes are characterized by bulging eyes. Inflammation occurs when the immune system targets the cells around the eyes, most commonly in the orbit, the area in your skull where your eyeballs lie.
It causes the muscles, fat, and other tissues in the area to expand.
In addition, when suffering from thyroid eye issues, one may notice other symptoms such as:
- Redness in the whites of your eyes
- Irritation
- Pain and pressure
- Dry or watery eyes
- Double vision
- Light sensitivity
- Pain in the eyes when looking in different directions
- Impaired vision
Thyroid eye disease might go into remission depending on the severity of the problem and the accessibility of treatment. It may cause problems for six months or a year, then dissipate for a while before reappearing.
Its odds of recurrence are slim if it goes dormant for a year. Cigarette smokers may experience worsening symptoms.
Is it possible to avoid the condition?
Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune ailment that is often accompanied by other thyroid-related problems. You won’t be able to stop it from happening.
However, preliminary data suggest that radioactive iodine treatment, which is used to treat an overactive thyroid, may be beneficial. Discuss all of your treatment choices with your doctor.
There are a few things you can do to keep your eyes healthy.
If you have thyroid disease, you should see an ophthalmologist to rule out any potential ocular complications.
Signs of ocular tissue edema or enlargement may be observed by your healthcare professional.
Routine eye exams from the start can assist to prevent serious eye problems later on.
Treatments such as lubricating eye drops and artificial tears may be prescribed by your doctor depending on your condition.