Graves’ disease is one of the most common forms of hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much of its hormones. Medline Plus lists some of the common symptoms of Graves’ disease as heartbeat irregularities, anxiety and fatigue. Another potential symptom is Graves’ ophthalmopathy, which is a set of eye problems often associated with Graves’ disease.
Typical Eye Problems
According to the Mayo Clinic, Graves’ disease can affect the muscles and tissues that sit behind the eyes, potentially causing them to swell. When this happens, the eyeballs are pushed further out of their sockets than normal. This causes the trademark “bulging eyes,” or exophthalmos, commonly associated with Graves’ disease. The bulging eyes can also lead to some of the other symptoms of Graves’ ophthalmopathy simply due to their more exposed position. According to the Mayo Clinic, these include eye dryness and irritation, excessive tear formation, eyelid swelling and sensitivity to light.
How Common are Eye Problems?
According to the Mayo Clinic, around half of all people with Graves’ disease will also have some form of eye problems. These symptoms are more common if the person with Graves’ disease also smokes. In fact, the Mayo Clinic reports that smoking increases the risk of Graves’ ophthalmopathy by as much as five times. In addition, Medline Plus reports that those who use radioactive iodine to treat their Graves’ symptoms sometimes see an increase in the severity of their eye problems.
What Causes Eye Problems?
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack the thyroid gland and cause it to go into overdrive. In 2008, a researcher from the Mayo Clinic discovered that the same antibodies responsible for Graves’ disease also target certain proteins specific to the eye tissues. The targeted eye tissues then swell, causing the Graves’ ophthalmopathy symptoms above. Since there is no known cure for Graves’ disease, and since many of the treatments focus on the thyroid gland, eye problems often persist for these people even when other symptoms are under control.
Treating Eye Problems
Since the thyroid’s overproduction is not the cause of the eye problems associated with Graves’ disease, people with Graves’ ophthalmopathy often have to resort to additional medications and other treatments just for their eyes. Some take corticosteroids, which can reduce eye tissue swelling. If this does not work, other potential treatments for Graves’ ophthalmopathy include radiation or surgery to coax the eyes back into place.
Prognosis for Eye Problems
The prognosis for people with Graves’ ophthalmopathy varies. For some, treatment takes away all of their eye symptoms. For others, treatment does not make a difference, or helps very little. People whose eye symptoms go untreated may also be at risk for further eye complications, even if their other Graves’ disease symptoms are under control. According to the Mayo Clinic, these include corneal ulcers, visual changes and a decrease in eye motion.
