Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves' Disease) |
| What is the Thyroid Gland? |
|
| The thyroid gland is located in the neck. It manufactures two thyroid hormones that are essential for metabolism and growth. The thyroid takes iodine from the food we eat and uses it to make thyroid hormones. If
thyroid hormones are in short supply, a person feels sluggish, has a slow heartbeat, and can even feel depressed. Doctors call this condition hypothyroidism. If a newborn has hypothyroidism, the baby can develop
a condition called cretinism. The baby may have slowed development and poor intelligence unless the condition is corrected. |
|
| Too much thyroid hormone is called hyperthyroidism and is also a problem. This condition is almost the exact opposite of hypothyroidism. The individual has a fast heartbeat, weight loss, nervousness, and heat
intolerance. In addition, hyperthyroidism can affect the eye. |
|
| One of the conditions that results in hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. This condition afflicts a great many people. In this disease, the thyroid gland enlarges and releases too much thyroid hormone. The person can become restless and overactive, and the heart often races. |
|
| How Can Thyroid Problems Affect The Eye? |
|
| People with excess thyroid hormones (Graves' disease) can develop many eye problems. One characteristic symptom is a protrusion of the eye (exophthalmos), in which the person appears to be staring or the eyelids
tend to pull back from the eye. The tissues and muscles around the eye appear swollen, and this swelling (or edema) contributes to the eye protruding. In this state the eye can become dangerously dry, resulting in
damage to or ulceration of the cornea, the clear outer covering of the eye. The person may also experience double vision. In severe cases, the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain may become damaged, leading to blindness. |
|
| How is Thyroid Disease Diagnosed? |
|
| Doctors can often recognize the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease, but they like to confirm the diagnosis with a blood test called a thyroid function test. In most cases, the test results will be abnormal and the diagnosis will be confirmed. However, a person may occasionally show symptoms such as eye protrusion when a thyroid function test is normal. |
|
| Can Thyroid Disease Be Successfully Treated? |
|
| The answer is absolutely yes. However, the treatment to regulate the thyroid may take from six months to a year. This treatment is usually given by an internist or general practitioner. Because hyperthyroidism often results in excessively dry eyes, doctors usually begin treatment with medication to keep the eye wet, called lubricants or artificial tears. If the cornea has been severely damaged, doctors may prescribe high-dose steroids, which act to reduce the swelling around the eye. |
|
| Some doctors may recommend eye surgery. In these operations, the surgeon attempts to reduce the protrusion of the eye either by cutting tissues that hold back the eyelid or by grafting tissue to raise the lower
lid. For people who cannot have surgery or do not want to do so, the doctor may choose to use low doses of controlled radiation on the eye. |
