Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) isn't usually associated with eye disease. In severe cases, however, hypothyroidism may cause swelling around the eyes and a loss of the hairs in the outer part of the eyebrows.
Common eye symptoms in thyroid dysfunction
Unlike Graves' thyroid eye disease, where symptoms are overt, eye-related disease symptoms in hypothyroidism are subtle except in severe cases. Swelling may cause blurry vision due to pressure applied to the optic nerve. Similarly, hypothyroidism may cause dry eyes.
blurred or double vision. red eyes. red, swollen or pulled back eyelids. bulging eyes.
Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, if left untreated, could lead to the cornea ulcerating, causing cataracts and perhaps even vision loss.
Treatments include medications to suppress the production of hormone by the thyroid gland, radioactive iodine to eliminate hormone-producing cells, and surgery to remove the thyroid tissue.
The release of insufficient thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) may result in low blood pressure and a slowed heart rate, causing dizziness, weakness, lethargy, and chills.
Once stabilized, it is unusual for the eyes to start changing again. Some patients are left with permanent changes, and in others the eyes return to normal. A great deal can be done to improve these conditions with medical treatment, although some patients will need surgery to help ease their issues.
One of the first things your doctor or ophthalmologist will look for is the classic symptoms of thyroid eye disease. A few of the symptoms they'll look out for during an eye exam include: Irritation or grittiness.
Diagnosis and Tests
If your healthcare provider thinks that you have thyroid eye disease, they'll order blood tests to check if your thyroid hormone levels and antibodies are too high or too low. Other tests your provider may request include: Ultrasound of the eyes. Computed tomography (CT).
There is no cure for an underactive thyroid. However, the condition can be successfully managed with levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levo-T, others).
Although it may occur in children, Cushing syndrome most commonly affects adults between the ages of 25 to 40. It can be caused by prolonged exposure to elevated levels of glucocorticoids produced within the body (endogenous) or introduced from outside the body (exogenous).
Teprotumumab is the only medicine to date proven to reduce overall clinical severity and proptosis, and provide a sustained response. In other words, teprotumumab can halt progression of active disease and reverse any changes associated with TED, and the effects are long-lasting.
Several risk factors have been identified in the development of TED including genetics and family history, sex (women are at a higher risk than men), cigarette smoking, and treatment with radioactive iodine treatment.
Early symptoms of thyroid eye disease are itching, watering or dry eyes and a feeling of grittiness of the eyes. Some people may notice a swelling around the eyelids and sometimes the front of the eye becomes swollen.
Management and Treatment
Graves' disease is a lifelong (chronic) condition. However, treatments can keep your thyroid hormone levels in check. Medical care may even make the disease temporarily go away (remission).
General joint and muscle pains are common when hypothyroidism is not sufficiently treated, and your dosage of thyroid hormone needs to be increased. Joint and muscle weakness and pain, especially in the arms and legs, can be evidence that you need an increased dose of antithyroid drugs for your hyperthyroidism.
In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma. This is where the thyroid hormone levels become very low, causing symptoms such as confusion, hypothermia and drowsiness. Myxoedema coma requires emergency treatment in hospital.
Thyroid hormones also influence the quality of your skin in various ways. For example, with hyperthyroidism, you may notice itchy and dry patches of skin. Your face may feel softer and swollen. You may even notice swelling around your fingertips.
A swollen fingertip, curved nail, and thickening skin above a nail are often signs of thyroid disease.
Symptoms usually last 1 to 2 years and often go away on their own. In rare cases, swelling around the eyes can press on the optic nerve (the nerve that connects the eye to the brain) and cause vision loss.
TED begins with an acute phase, which means that symptoms appear suddenly and often get worse. The acute phase can last from 6 months to 2 years. The inflammation (redness and swelling) and scarring that start to form during this phase can damage your eyes, and cause a number of changes.