What is Thyroid Eye Disease?

This is an autoimmune condition where your body’s immune system is producing factors that stimulate enlargement of the muscles that move the eye. This can result in bulging of the eyes, retraction of the lids, double vision, decreased vision, and ocular irritation. This is often associated with abnormalities in thyroid gland function (either too much thyroid (Graves’ disease) or too little). The eye findings of thyroid orbitopathy may be independent of treatment of your thyroid abnormalities and may not resolve in spite of the fact that the thyroid is now “controlled.” These symptoms may be present even if your thyroid has no apparent problems.