

If thyroid eye disease is causing bulging eyes, the following treatments may be used:

Treatment for proptosis varies depending on the cause of the condition. Expect to have your thyroid hormone checked with blood tests.Īs this condition is often caused by thyroid disease, you may be referred to an endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in treating thyroid function. Your doctor may recommend a CT scan, MRI scan, or ultrasound. This is done with an exophthalmometer, a specialized instrument that measures the extent of the protrusion. Testing often includes checking eye movement and measuring how far your eyeball is bulging. Your doctor will check your symptoms and evaluate potential causes.Īfter seeing your doctor, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist for in-depth diagnostic tests. The eyeball pushes forward from your eye sockets. When your eyes bulge, more of the white portion of the eyes is visible. You may also notice double vision, decreased vision, swelling, irritation, or watery eyes. You may notice the bulging because it’s hard to close your eyelids, or each of your eyes looks different. If you notice protrusion of one or both eyes, see your health care provider right away. Abnormal blood vessels or bleeding behind the eyesīulging eyes may also rarely occur in newborns.Other causes of exophthalmos and proptosis are less common and may include the following: The bulging eyes occur when the immune system mistakenly targets fat tissue and muscles of the eye. Graves’ is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. Thyroid eye disease, also called Graves’ ophthalmopathy disease, is one of the primary causes of bulging eyes. Left untreated, it can permanently damage your ability to see. Since this condition can create compression of the optic nerve, it is essential to get immediate treatment. It is most commonly caused by a rare disease called thyroid eye disease. This is a medical condition that can affect one or both eyes. Bulging eyeballs are also known as exophthalmos or proptosis.
