One Bulging eye, normal thyroid

[ocbiker82]

My 76 year old uncle's eye is bulging out of the socket. He can no longer move it up or down, says he get's dizzy spells and double vision. Has severe headaches in the back of his head, has no history of headaches.

Doctor said his thyroid is fine, ordered an MRI as he is not quite sure what's going on.

any ideas as to what my uncle could have?

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

Good luck. Follow through on the evaluation.
JCH MD

[ocbiker82]

Thank you Doctor JCH,

The GP which ordered the MRI referred my uncle to a local Ophthalmologist to review the results of the MRI, placed urgency on this appointment, so he'll be in there tomorrow. The GP says he suspects it has the potential to be serious since the lab/blood work came back normal, said the MRI would be able to definitively give a cause. Unfortunately could not elaborate any further on the cause since it's not his area of expertise.

My uncle lives in Palm Springs, CA so we should have a couple of options here in Southern California for surgery. We're hoping for the best as his eye has gradually worsened and the regular Optometrist he sees has not been too helpful, just said he needed to see an MD to check out his Thyroid.

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

This could be a very serious problem and I strongly recommend he see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. If available seeing an "oculoplastic surgeon" would be ideal. If you live in USA find one near him at www.aao.org

PLEASE MOVE ON THIS QUICKLY.

JCH MD

[achillea]

If just *one* eye is protruding, this is serious business.  Abscesses, tumors, and cancer are things that will need to be investigated.

You can google 'unilateral proptosis' for more info.