Hypothyroid and Eye Pressure

[cshankar]

I have been under the care of a physician for ocular hypertension for about a year and a half. My pressures for the last 6 months range from 22-24 in each eye.  When I was first diagnosed with ocular hypertenstion I had noticed that I had droopy and swollen eyelids,particularly in the morning which started about 2 years ago. This still persists and I have been recently diagnosed with an underactive thyroid by my primary care physician, but I have not yet started taking horomone replacement meds. I asked both of my eye doctors about a potential correlation between my eyelid swelling/pressure issues and the underactive thyroid and both seem to indicate there is no link and the only eye pressure issue would result from hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.  Is this an accurate assessment from my eye doctors or is it worthwhile to seek an additional opinion? Thank you for your time, this website has proven to be very helpful!

[BigSalad]

What about a benign tumor on your pituitary? It can cause both hypothyroid problems and various eye problems.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Hypothyroidism and ocular hypertension are NOT related, its coincidential.

Hypothyroidism can sometimes cause loss of the outer 1/2 to 1/3 of the eyebrows. Droopy lids most common cause by far aging changes of the eyelid muscles.

JCH MD

[cwatt1]

Sorry -- wrong acronym.  I meant IOP (intraocular pressure), not IOL.

I can see why Dr. Hagan dislikes acronyms -- so easy to confuse them!

[cwatt1]

I can't comment on the drooping eyelids, but I do have the same combination of issues as you regarding IOL and thyroid.  I've been hypothyroid and on Synthroid for years.  My IOL also tends to be a bit high (around 19 in my right eye), although I've been told this results from pigment disperson syndrome.  It spiked a bit more (to around 30) after recent cataract surgery, but seems to be coming back down now.

I have not been advised of any connection between my IOL and my hypothyroidism.