What is graves eye disease

Graves’ eye disease also know as Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) occurs when cells from the immune system attack the muscles and other tissues around the eyes.  The result is inflammation and a buildup in tissue and fat behind the eye socket, causing the eyeballs to bulge.  In rare cases, inflammation is severe enough to compress the optic nerve, causing vision loss.

Other symptoms of GO include:

1. dry, irritated eyes
2. puffy eyelids and under the eyes
3. double vision
4. light sensitivity
5. pressure or pain in the eyes
6. trouble moving the eyes

About 25 percent of people with Graves’ disease develop GO, which is usually of mild to moderate severity.  This eye disorder usually lasts 1 to 2 years and often improves on its own.  GO can occur before, at the same time as, or after other symptoms of hyperthyroidism develop and may even occur in people whose thyroid function is normal.  GO is severe in 3 to 5 percent of people who have the disorder, and smoking makes GO worse.

• February 3, 2010 -- How Is Graves’ Disease Treated?
  Graves' disease treatment options from the medical community Doctors prescribe one or more of the three treatment options:  radioiodine therapy, antithyroid drugs, or thyroid surgery.  Radioiodine therapy is the most commonly used treatment for Graves' disease in the United States. Radioiodine Therapy In radioiodine therapy, the patient takes radioactive iodine-131 by mouth.  Because the ...
• January 20, 2010 -- How Is Graves’s Disease Diagnosed?
  Graves' disease diagnosed Doctors can sometimes diagnose Graves' disease based only on a physical examination and a medical history.  Laboratory test confirm the diagnosis. The ultrasensitive TSH test is usually the first test a doctor performs.  This test detects even tiny amounts of TSH in the blood and is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity available.  Another blood test used to...