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Thyroid Eye Disorder (T.E.D.)
What do you know of this? I am asking for a few reasons.
One, my brother's girlfriend has been diagnosed with hyperthyroid (years ago.)
Prior to my knowing anything about thyroid issues, one thing that I had noticed about her and right away, were her eyes. Then, questions about my own health lead me into looking to thyroid disorders.
In learning and afterwards, I had asked her if she had a thyroid condition. The answer was yes, hyperthyroid. Taking medication for it, as well as for anxiety. Later, I emailed her asking if she had Graves. She didn't even know what it was. I asked if her antibodies were ever tested and she said no. Being inquisitive isn't seemingly in her nature and she just follows doctors orders.
At any rate, was wondering about this and it's symptoms? I have seen photos (google images) and some of the photos are...wow!
Is it possible to have T.E.D. and yet it not appearing so dramatic (scary actually)?
One, my brother's girlfriend has been diagnosed with hyperthyroid (years ago.)
Prior to my knowing anything about thyroid issues, one thing that I had noticed about her and right away, were her eyes. Then, questions about my own health lead me into looking to thyroid disorders.
In learning and afterwards, I had asked her if she had a thyroid condition. The answer was yes, hyperthyroid. Taking medication for it, as well as for anxiety. Later, I emailed her asking if she had Graves. She didn't even know what it was. I asked if her antibodies were ever tested and she said no. Being inquisitive isn't seemingly in her nature and she just follows doctors orders.
At any rate, was wondering about this and it's symptoms? I have seen photos (google images) and some of the photos are...wow!
Is it possible to have T.E.D. and yet it not appearing so dramatic (scary actually)?
Is predisone a steriod. How long might it take to help. My eyes started about 7 weeks ago and I am out of work now. What are the side effects. I have Graves disease and haven the RAI. I so can/t afford to be out of work.
I am so scared, please help!
Thank you
I am so scared, please help!
Thank you
I have yellow, raised tissue on both my eyes. What is this, and how can I heal it? There is nothing I can do medically, since I have already had my thyroid radiation treatment. The tissue si concentrated aroun dmy eye sockets, and is starting to grow toward my irises. Any help is greatly appreciated.
In case you happen to come back here, thank you both for posting. Much appreciated!
To answer your last question, yes, it is possible to have fairly involved TED and not have it appear so scary. I was diagnosed with Graves and Graves Eye Disease two years ago. Lots of gritty feeling in both eyes, lots of tearing, very light sensitive, and my eye drops (artificial tears) are never far away.
My opthamologist tells me I have a fairly severe case, but the visual effect is lessened because of the bushy eyebrows that seem to run in my family (for once, genetics give me a break!). My eyes do not appear to the casual observer to be bugging out of my eye sockets like many of the pictures you see on the internet. However, when looking at the CT scan, the bulging is very apparent, the right eye being marginally worse than the left.
Overall, the appearance depends on the amount of bulging, which is caused when the antibodies attacking the eyes cause fat to be deposited in the eye muscles behind the eye. Since the muscles are surrounded by the bony eye socket, the eyeballs have no place to go but out the front, which is what causes the bulging eye look. The only way to get the eyes back into their normal place is surgery to reduce the fat deposits and/or to enlarge the eye socket. The procedure is commonly called an orbital decompression.
My opthamologist tells me I have a fairly severe case, but the visual effect is lessened because of the bushy eyebrows that seem to run in my family (for once, genetics give me a break!). My eyes do not appear to the casual observer to be bugging out of my eye sockets like many of the pictures you see on the internet. However, when looking at the CT scan, the bulging is very apparent, the right eye being marginally worse than the left.
Overall, the appearance depends on the amount of bulging, which is caused when the antibodies attacking the eyes cause fat to be deposited in the eye muscles behind the eye. Since the muscles are surrounded by the bony eye socket, the eyeballs have no place to go but out the front, which is what causes the bulging eye look. The only way to get the eyes back into their normal place is surgery to reduce the fat deposits and/or to enlarge the eye socket. The procedure is commonly called an orbital decompression.
I unofficially have slight TED in one eye. It is a little bigger then the other eye with a slight protrusion and stare. It gets very dry and sore so I use a lot of artificial tears (NOT get-the-red-out drops), or no tear eye drops. It appeared two years after RAI. I have no eye sight problems and it hasn't gotten any worse since it first appeared 8 years ago (also my nodule appeared at the same time). Some people have it so bad many surgeries are needed to correct or improve the condition.
Thyroid Eye Disease is an autoimmune eye condition that, while separate from thyroid disease, is often seen in conjunction with Graves' Disease. The condition is also seen in people with no other evidence of thyroid dysfunction, and occasionally in patients who have Hashimoto's Disease. Most thyroid patients will not develop thyroid eye disease and if so only mildly so.
The eye disease can happen at any time and usually there is nothing nothing done about TED even if there are early signs of TED because doctors do not do anything at first. They prefer to wait and watch. Well-trained doctors waite and watch through a year and a half or so of "hot phase". Putting oneself under stress about something that cannot be done right now can make one feel worse. The only way to minimize any risk is to keep our stress levels down
Different antibodies attack the muscles associated with eye and eyelid movement. Although the thyroid gland and the eye may be under attack by the same immune system, it is felt that both conditions remain independent of one another. The antibodies that attack the eye can cause inflammation and swelling of the muscles around the eye, which is what can eventually cause protrusion of the eyes, double vision and retraction of the eyelids.
None of the treatment options will avoid the eye disease if you develop it. RAI does not cause eye disease. 16% of patients have a temporary worsening of eye symptoms that was thought to be a result of an antibody reaction to RAI. By taking prednisone antibody reaction is averted so no increased eye symptoms are atttributable to RAI. According to New England Journal of Medicine "worsening of ophthalmopathy after radioiodine therapy is often transient and can be prevented by the administration of prednisone".
Some people develop TED when they take animal-based extracts such as Armour, because the immune system react to foreign proteins found in glandular extracts. Synthetic meds. doesn't cause this probelm.
An opthalmologist is the best doctor to assess what's going on with TED
Thyroid Eye Disease is an autoimmune eye condition that, while separate from thyroid disease, is often seen in conjunction with Graves' Disease. The condition is also seen in people with no other evidence of thyroid dysfunction, and occasionally in patients who have Hashimoto's Disease. Most thyroid patients will not develop thyroid eye disease and if so only mildly so.
The eye disease can happen at any time and usually there is nothing nothing done about TED even if there are early signs of TED because doctors do not do anything at first. They prefer to wait and watch. Well-trained doctors waite and watch through a year and a half or so of "hot phase". Putting oneself under stress about something that cannot be done right now can make one feel worse. The only way to minimize any risk is to keep our stress levels down
Different antibodies attack the muscles associated with eye and eyelid movement. Although the thyroid gland and the eye may be under attack by the same immune system, it is felt that both conditions remain independent of one another. The antibodies that attack the eye can cause inflammation and swelling of the muscles around the eye, which is what can eventually cause protrusion of the eyes, double vision and retraction of the eyelids.
None of the treatment options will avoid the eye disease if you develop it. RAI does not cause eye disease. 16% of patients have a temporary worsening of eye symptoms that was thought to be a result of an antibody reaction to RAI. By taking prednisone antibody reaction is averted so no increased eye symptoms are atttributable to RAI. According to New England Journal of Medicine "worsening of ophthalmopathy after radioiodine therapy is often transient and can be prevented by the administration of prednisone".
Some people develop TED when they take animal-based extracts such as Armour, because the immune system react to foreign proteins found in glandular extracts. Synthetic meds. doesn't cause this probelm.
An opthalmologist is the best doctor to assess what's going on with TED
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