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Graves Eye Disease

Posted , 7 users are following.

angela77485
angela77485

I have Graves Eye Disease in just my right eye. At first I never noticed it, but my doctor pointed it out. Ever since that moment I've gone back on my FB photos to see if I could find pictures where my right eye is bigger (I want to know how long I've had it).

I've seen a top notch doctor at the Mayo clinic for it, and was told there isn't anything they can do since it isn't pressing on my optic nerve.

She told me to use eye drops 2-3 times daily because "my dry eyes make it worse"

Is there anything I can do to decrease the puffiness?

This sounds really dumb, but I have a date this weekend and would like to wear my contacts for the first time in a long time, and not have such a noticeably large right eye.

I've told him about my right eye, but it has seriously gotten 5X worse since past week.

Ughhhh, help me!!!

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • steff111
    steff111 angela77485

    Posted

    Hi there I too have Graves and past year had gritty watery eyes, one last Aug I woke up with both eyes mega puffy/swollen, spoke to my G.P who mentioned to me how Graves can cause TED (Tyroid eye desease) he reffered me to the eye clinic and there I was pretty much seen right away told I'd need a course of IV steroids which I stared 2 days later. I've just fin the course I do think that's made a big difference although defo nit back to normal, since the swelling has gone down but my eyes now look very starey like and will not stop waterin, I mean totally streaming. I was back again today and my eye doc spoke about decompression surgery. I really don't want any surgery but they say this will give me a chance to push my eyes back a little to look more like normal. I would recommend you ask to be refer as there is a good chance your eye could get worse or maybe even effect your other eye. Don't leave it longer the ealier the treatment the better the outcome. ..

    Good luck hope things get better for you real soon.

    S x

  • linda187
    linda187 angela77485

    Posted

    A lot of Graves patients take 200 mg of Selenium a day or eat 2 Brazil nuts daily to help with Graves eye disease.
  • michelle60449
    michelle60449 angela77485

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with Graves and  also TED a little over a year ago. I constantly wake up with watery, gritty eye and my vision has deteriorated tremendously. I had IV steroid treatments to help with the inflammation but honestly I didnt see any results. My doctor has alos spoken to me about decompression in which I will probably have in a few months so that I can feel some what normal. The surgery will also help with the sever dry eyes that I experience. I keep eye drop with me at all times and use them all day everyday. Unfortunately there is no easy quick fix for this. Just know that your not alone and although not an overnight fix there is help out there.
    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 michelle60449

      Posted

      Hi Michelle

      I had dry eyes due to concretions. These were removed quite painlessly in the out patients clinic and the rlief was immediate. I was then presecribed artificial tears drops which were discontinued as I was allergic to them!

      However things have improved.

      Cindy.

  • jan64074
    jan64074 angela77485

    Posted

    Selenium was recommended by my Endocrinologist the first time I saw him, he also suggested Brazil nuts. Since taking Selenium my eyes have improved, I have had it confirmed I have a MILD form of TED by an Eye Consultant.

    I am on block and replacement therapy - 30mg Carb and 100mg Thyroxine daily - until June 2016 and am in the UK.

    As my thyroid range back to normal apart from the TSH I asked my Endo this month, if I could come off this therapy sooner and was told that it might set me back a few months if I didn't do a full year on B & R and also that it could effect my eyes.

    So for my eyes I am sticking to taking the Selenium, occasional brazil nuts and listening to my Endo when he says don't come off the tabs.

    Hope your eyes improve biggrinits worth a go with Selenium and Brazil nuts!

     

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 jan64074

      Posted

      HI jan

      What were your eye symptoms?

      How much selenium did you take?

      Cindy

    • jan64074
      jan64074 cindy72112

      Posted

      Hi Cindy, one eye appeared larger than the other, whites of the eyes red, eyes a bit watery. Thankfully no double vision or any of the other nasty symptoms.  That's why eye specialist said I had a mild form. No treatment needed at the moment, though if it got worse the eye specialist did mention steroids.  

      I take as recommended by endo 200mg of Selenium a day. 

      Both Endo and Eye Specialist said NOT to have RAI treatment as could make my eyes worse.  So I am hoping that by the time June comes around and they take me off Carb and Thyroxine that my thyroid goes back to behaving itself (I've a feeling I will go back to being underactive as I was for 11 years) and fingers and everything else crossed I have no more symptoms of TED.

       

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 jan64074

      Posted

      Thanks Jan for your speedy reply.

      I was wondering if your eyes were dry or felt gritty?

      Did you have a headache or eye pain at all?

      DId they check the back of the eye?

      Sorry about all the questions.

       

    • jan64074
      jan64074 cindy72112

      Posted

      No dry eyes, or grittiness, no headache or eye pain, so I consider myself very lucky! and yes I had a thorough check with Eye Specialist who I was referred to by my Endocrinolgist. They work out of the same hospital which is a teaching hospital as well, so when I had my eye exam students were in the room learning all about TED.  
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