What We Want You to Know About Thyroid Eye Disease

Your eyes are itchy or painful, you’re seeing double, and your eyes even seem to be growing larger and popping out of your head. While this may sound cartoonish, these side effects are very real if you have thyroid eye disease (TED).

As a leading expert in all things thyroid-related, endocrinologist Dr. Sean P. Nikravan has extensive experience helping patients with thyroid issues like Graves’ disease and related complications like thyroid eye disease.

Here, we share some of what we know about TED to help you stay one step ahead of thyroid complications.

The road to thyroid eye disease

The most common cause of thyroid eye disease is Graves’ disease, which affects about one in 100 Americans. And one in three people who have Graves’ disease develop TED. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to hyperthyroidism (an overproduction of thyroid hormones) — in fact, four out of every five cases of hyperthyroidism can be traced to Graves’ disease. 

Another key statistic is the fact that women outpace men by more than five to one when it comes to hyperthyroidism. As a result, issues like Graves’ disease and TED are far more common in women.

While TED is most commonly associated with hyperthyroidism, in very rare cases, Graves’ disease can lead to hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones). When Graves’ disease goes in this direction, TED is also possible.

Signs of thyroid eye disease 

When you have an autoimmune disorder like Graves’ disease, the tissues around your eyes can swell, which may lead to:

• Protruding eyes as the inflamed muscles push your eyes outward
• Dry eyes
• Eye pain, especially when you move them
• Redness in your eyes
• A feeling of grittiness in your eyes
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Excessive tearing
• Vision issues, such as seeing double

This inflammation occurs because your immune system is mistakenly attacking your tissues, and it often occurs in phases. Active phases can last for up to three years and are usually followed by a stable phase.

How we can help with thyroid eye disease

If any of the symptoms above sound familiar and you’re also experiencing other signs of hyperthyroidism, such as restlessness, weight loss, excessive sweating, and a rapid heartbeat, odds are that you’re dealing with a thyroid condition like Graves’ disease.

To  confirm this, Dr. Nikravan reviews your symptoms and performs a physical exam to check for changes in your thyroid gland. He then orders blood work so that he can evaluate your thyroid hormone levels. Dr. Nikravan may also order imaging tests, such as a thyroid scan with a radioactive iodine uptake test.

If Dr. Nikravan confirms Graves’ disease, there are three effective treatment options:

• Medications, namely beta blockers
• Radioiodine therapy that targets the cells that produce thyroid hormones
• Thyroid surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid

By treating your underlying Graves’ disease, your TED should also clear up. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to make your eyes more comfortable, such us using eye drops and applying cold compresses to your eyes to control swelling, 

Of course, we create a more detailed and tailored plan for your TED and Graves’ disease that reflects the severity of your symptoms and your comfort level.

For excellent care of your thyroid eye disease or if you have any questions, we invite you to contact Sean P. Nikravan, MD, in Newport Beach, California, today to schedule an appointment.