Are your eyes red, swollen or bulging? If you are diagnosed with a thyroid condition, you may be dealing with thyroid eye disease (TED). This condition can affect your vision as well as your appearance. Naturally, the common question that arises is, “Can I cure thyroid eye disease?”
Let’s look into whether this condition is curable, how it is managed, and the steps you can take to slow or stop its progression.
Can thyroid eye disease be cured?
“Will thyroid eye disease disappear?” Currently, there is no definitive treatment for thyroid eye disease. This, also known as Graves’ eye disease, can be effectively managed with a variety of treatment options.
The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening.
Thyroid eye disease (TED) generally progresses through two different stages. This helps guide treatment strategies.
Active (inflammatory) phase:
This phase is marked by pain, swelling, redness, and inflammation that causes changes in the appearance of the eye. Therefore, treatment aims to reduce inflammation and maintain vision.
Inactive (Stable) Phase:
At this stage, inflammation is reduced, but changes in the structure around the eyes can occur continuously. Therefore, your doctor recommends surgical correction.
How fast does thyroid eye disease progress?
The progression of thyroid eye disease varies based on a two-phase course.
Active Phase:
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Duration: Usually lasts from 6 months to 2-3 years.
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Symptoms: inflammation, bulging eyes, pain, swelling around the eyes, double vision, rough emotions.
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Progression: This stage can worsen potential symptoms.
Stable phase:
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Duration: For lifetime
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Symptoms: Swelling and inflammation subside. However, symptoms such as double vision and eyelid retraction may remain.
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Progression: Symptoms are rare, but some individuals may experience flare-up (advanced symptoms).
Common progressive symptoms include:
- Protruding or bulging of the eye (called escape)
- Double vision due to eye inconsistency
- The difficult pain of moving eyes and moving eyes
Important notes: Early treatment at the active stage can help limit disease progression and potentially prevent the risk of vision loss.
Thyroid eye disease treatment
Treatment of thyroid eye diseases aims to address symptoms, manage underlying thyroid problems, and reverse vision problems. Treatment options include:
Supportive treatment:
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Lubricated Eye Drop: Helps to reduce eye irritation and dryness.
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Special glasses or prism: Modify double vision.
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Raise your head: Helps reduce swelling and swelling in the eyes.
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Sunglasses: Protects against sunlight and wind and manages light sensitivity.
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no smoking: the study Smoking reports that it can worsen the severity of TED.
medicine:
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Corticosteroids: Examples include prednisone, one of the potent corticosteroids for ocular inflammation. Suppressing the hyperactive immune system can help relieve swelling and inflammation of the eyes.
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Teprotumumab (tepezza): An anti-inflammatory drug (also known as propitosis) that reduces double vision and eye swelling.
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Cionamide: Examples include propylthiouracil and methimazole, which help to lower thyroid hormone levels in case you have hyperthyroidism.
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Selenium supplements: manage selenium deficiency, which causes the severity of symptoms of thyroid eye disease.
Radiation therapy
It is prescribed along with steroids and is a substitute for people who do not respond well to corticosteroids. By destroying immune cells that are actively present behind the eyes, this therapy reduces eye inflammation and improves symptoms such as eye, double vision and eyelid contractions.
Surgical treatment:
Orbital decompression surgery
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This surgical procedure is recommended when inflammation squeezes the optic nerve. It also helps reduce eye swelling.
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It involves removing bone or fat present in the eye socket.
Eye muscle surgery
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Your health care provider will advise you on this surgical procedure if your eye muscles are injured and restricting eye movements, or if you are dealing with double vision.
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By properly adjusting the eye muscles, this surgical procedure corrects dual vision.
Thyroidectomy
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This surgical procedure can help treat severe hyperthyroidism.
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If the drug cannot control the release of thyroid hormone levels, it includes removal of the thyroid gland.
Eyelid surgery
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This surgery is necessary when the eyelids are retracted (the eyelids are pulled back).
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By rearranging the contracted eyelids, this surgery manages eyelid retraction and improves appearance and comfort.
Eye Plasma Surgery
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The surgery addresses issues such as pouches around the eyes and swelling of the eyes.
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They treat these eye problems by adjusting bones and soft tissues around the eyes.
Corneal transplantation
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It is recommended that the cornea be severely damaged by exposure to the active stage of thyroid eye disease.
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In this procedure, the damaged cornea is replaced by a healthy cornea from the donor to improve vision.
Important notes: Always follow up with your ophthalmologist and endocrinologist to track disease progression and tailor treatment as needed.
Lifestyle changes and home medication to manage Ted
In addition to medications and surgeries, these lifestyle changes and home remedies can also help manage TED symptoms.
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Use lubricated eye drops: Give relief from dry, irritating eyes.
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Apply Cool Compression: Applying a cold compression, like a gel mask or a damp washroom, can help relieve inflammation and swelling.
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Raise your head: Raise your head while lying down to reduce swelling around your eyes.
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Wear wraparound sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the wind and sunlight and prevent further irritation.
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Stop smoking: Prevents worsening TED symptoms.
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Use a humidifier. Humidifiers help add moisture to the air, reducing the risk of dry eyes.
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Make dietary changes: Avoid excessive intake of iodine, processed foods, and artificial sweeteners, and consume diets rich in selenium, such as meat, nuts, and fish.
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Stress Management: Practice deep breathing exercises, yoga and meditation to manage your stress. the study He says stress is involved in worsening TED symptoms.
Can thyroid eye diseases recur?
Yes, thyroid eye disease can occur again after treatment. Treatment can improve symptoms and significantly reduce the severity of the condition, but this disease can recur. If triggers such as stress or smoking are present, the chances of recurrence are high. Therefore, consistent monitoring is essential even after achieving stable phases.
What aggravates thyroid eye disease?
The following factors could trigger Ted:
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Smoking or used smoke
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Uncontrolled (high or low) thyroid hormone levels
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stress
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Radioactive iodine treatment
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A diet rich in saturated fats and simple sugar
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Allergens such as gluten, lactose, wheat, peanuts
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Vitamin D deficiency
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High levels of thyroid antibodies
Ted’s complications
If left untreated, thyroid eye disease can lead to severe complications.
The long-term look changes include:
Long-term vision changes include:
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Haze
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Double vision
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Serious vision loss
Can you prevent thyroid eye disease?
TED cannot be completely prevented. However, using several measures can minimize development risks and prevent them from getting worse. These measures are:
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Smoking stops smoking because it worsens the severity of the condition and reduces the effectiveness of the treatment.
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Control thyroid hormone levels as fluctuations can worsen.
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Take selenium supplements to reduce the severity of mild, active TED.
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Avoid radioiodine treatment for active TED unless medically necessary.
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Reduce swelling of the eyes in the morning by using an extra pillow to lift your head and sleep.
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Seek early treatment for symptoms to prevent worsening TED.
prognosis
The prognosis or outlook is good for many people suffering from thyroid eye disease.
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Most people have mild TED symptoms and often experience significant improvements with appropriate treatment, but often subdued themselves.
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Individuals over the age of 50 are more likely to develop severe symptoms that require a combination of treatments to manage their symptoms.
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Certain individuals experience long-lasting eye changes, which lead to surgery.
Final Thoughts
Can thyroid eye disease be cured? If you experience a recurrence of symptoms, it may be your concern. There is no definitive treatment for this condition, but it is significantly easier to manage. Suitable supportive treatments, medications, and surgical procedures allow for management and prevention of thyroid eye diseases.
The key is to seek professional help early, control your condition, protect your vision, and improve your quality of life.
FAQ
Does thyroid eye disease affect only one eye?
Yes, thyroid eye diseases can affect only one eye and can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, swelling, and dual vision.
Do you have thyroid eye diseases make your eyes bloated?
No, not everyone inflates their eyes related to eye diseases of the thyroid, but it is a common symptom. Approximately 25% of individuals are in their eyes.
Is thyroid eye disease contagious?
No, it’s not contagious and you can’t catch it from others. This is because it is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system itself attacks its own healthy tissue or cell.
Which morning drink is best for your thyroid?
Warm lemon water makes the perfect drink for hydration and digestion, while turmeric milk can promote thyroid health with its anti-inflammatory properties.
What do people with thyroid eye disease look like?
People experience red and irritated eyes, puffy eyelids, double vision, eye pain, eyelid retraction.
