What is Thyroid Eye Disease?
Thyroid eye disease (TED), thyroid orbitopathy, or Graves' eye disease is a condition that develops in patients with overactive thyroids. Graves' disease is an immune system disorder that attacks the thyroid gland, resulting in an overproduction of thyroid hormones. This imbalance usually causes tissue around the eyes to swell or bulge. At Myint Oculo Facial Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, NV, seasoned ophthalmic plastic surgeon Dr. Shoib Myint offers a variety of treatment options to help manage the symptoms of TED. If you have a thyroid disorder and have noticed changes in the contours of your eyes or vision, reach out to our practice today to schedule an exam.
Thyroid Eye Disease Reviews
What Are the Causes and symptoms of thyroid orbitopathy?
Typically, most patients with Graves' disease struggle with thyroid orbitopathy. The most common signs and symptoms of this condition include bulging of the eyes (proptosis), puffiness around the eyes, blurred vision, pressure pain, redness, grittiness or dryness, difficulty closing the eyelids or moving the eyes, and sensitivity to bright light. In some cases, TED can lead to severe inflammation that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Seeking professional treatment is the best way to manage symptoms and prevent further damage.
How is it diagnosed?
If your symptoms indicate that perhaps your thyroid is responsible for your vision problems, there are a number of steps to be taken at Myint Oculo Facial Plastic Surgery to diagnose your problem. Bloodwork will be the first step taken, to assess your thyroid hormonal and antibody levels. These levels may be either too high or too low, if thyroid orbitopathy is at play. Additional diagnostic examinations may include an ultrasound or other imaging of your eyes, which can help to rule out any additional causes or diagnoses.
What is the Treatment for thyroid orbitopathy?
Dr. Myint is a skilled orbital and reconstructive surgeon who has years of extensive experience in treating thyroid eye disease. Treatment will be different for every patient depending on the severity of their condition and symptoms. The most common forms of therapy include artificial tear drops, steroids, immunosuppression medications, radiation therapy, orbital decompression surgery, blepharoplasty, and eye muscle surgery. The overall goal of treatment is to manage the disease, reduce pain, protect the eyes, and improve vision for long-term ocular health.
Thyroid Eye Disease Video
Plan Your Procedure
- Average Cost
- $3,000 - $5,000
- Recovery Time
- 1 – 3 Months
- Average Procedure Time
- 1 – 2 Hours
- Post-op Follow-up
- 1 Week
- Procedure Recovery Location
- Outpatient
Thyroid Eye Disease FAQ
Is thyroid eye disease serious? Can it cause blindness?
Many people with thyroid eye disease are concerned about it causing blindness. Most patients with thyroid eye disease will only have mild symptoms; however, about 3 - 5% of patients will have serious problems, which can include vision loss.
What are the common problems related to thyroid eye disease?
Because thyroid eye disease (Graves’ disease) attacks the tissue around the eyes, the most common problems include:
- Dry irritated eyes
- Double vision
- Eyelid retraction
- Eye protrusion
- Vision loss
Will my eyes go back to normal after treatment for thyroid eye disease?
While some patients will see a return to a more normal state for their eyes, many will not. In some cases, their eyes may even worsen after medical treatment has stabilized their thyroid condition. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek treatment. Getting treatment for thyroid eye disease is essential to preventing eye damage and vision loss and improving your overall health.
What are other risk factors for getting thyroid eye disease?
If you have Graves’ disease, these factors can increase your risk for developing thyroid eye disease:
- Being a female
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Radioiodine treatments
Related Procedures
manage your disease
Early detection and treatment are key to managing TED. If you've been experiencing any of the above symptoms, we invite you to call Myint Oculo Facial Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, NV to set up an appointment with Dr. Shoib Myint. In many cases, insurance plans tend to cover part of the costs of treatment for thyroid eye disease. Our team can reach out to your provider to review your benefits and discuss out-of-pocket costs during your initial consultation.