[snelsen]

#1018463

Do I have any reason to hope this is decreased, or resolved, after strabismus surgery? It really is a problem!

[Kimberly]

#1065025

Hello – My understanding is that the tearing is caused by dryness. It’s possible that lid retraction is keeping your eyes from closing all the way. If this is the case, strabismus surgery would not necessarily impact this, but the final eyelid surgery (if you need it) will hopefully provide some relief.

In the meantime, a regular regimen of eyedrops could help with the tearing, as could covering the eyes at night to keep them shut. Also, I find that my tearing gets worse if I’m exposed to direct sunlight or to any kind of draft (A/C, wind, fan, etc.)

Best of luck — I’ve had this happen in both eyes while driving, and it’s both frustrating and scary!

[snelsen]

#1065026

Thanks, Kimberly. Yes, I pretty much know this, but it helps to know that it has been a problem for others. I am waiting for appt c strabismus surgeon, long waits cause they are all pediatric eye docs, and from that group, just a few do strabismus surgery. I am sure I will have eyelid surgery after for retracted lids, plus the eye that still won’t shut completely.
I am SO photophobic, and my vision is definitely impacted when my eyes tear and water every 30 seconds! I have supported the eye drop business for the past 18 months! Always have some with me. I have a ton of lubricant which I use at night, plus taping eye most night. I seem to be doing a good job protecting the cornea in my left eye.
Oh, to be NORMAL again, get glasses which are correcgted for my vision, not have to think about further surgeries.
I think, after going through TED, I might be a little too hopeful about being normal. Watery eyes definitely interferes with vision, plus photophobia, plus double vision. None are very compatible with driving, I keep it to a bare minimum, usually only to doc appointments I cannot access by bus. I love to drive.
Another question-does photophobia improve at all after strabismus surgery? WEaring sunglasses, a visor hat really is not enough. There is a glare, which causes a "blind spot" and I have to use my hands to shade my eyes in addition to the above.
Thanks, Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1065027

snelsen wrote: Another question-does photophobia improve at all after strabismus surgery? WEaring sunglasses, a visor hat really is not enough. There is a glare, which causes a "blind spot" and I have to use my hands to shade my eyes in addition to the above.
Thanks, Shirley

Hi Shirley – I haven’t been able to find anything on what part of the eye disease causes the photophobia…so I don’t know whether the strabismus surgery will provide relief. Perhaps someone who has been through the whole cycle of surgeries will be able to comment on if/when this particular symptom started to improve.

[susandemarco]

#1065028

Hi,
I took RAI on January8th of this year. Everything seemed to be going pretty well. I became hypo the beginning
of March and was put on 100mcgs of synthroid and then my endo reduced it to 88mcg six weeks later. After about
six weeks of being on the 88 I was reduced to 75mcg. Have been on this dose for about five weeks. About
one week into the new dose, my eyeslids began to get puffy. I thought it was because my dose was not high enoug,
but it seems that is not the case. My endo said it might be a form of TED, and that it will most likely straighten itself
out. Has anyone experienced out there ever experienced this, and if so, did it in fact straighten itself out.

I would appreciate any input anyone might have.

Thanks,
Susan

[Bobbi]

#1065029

Responding to several posts:

Soft tissue swelling can be one of the signs of TED; it can also be caused by allergies, or other issues.

Photophobic reactions have something to do with thyroid disease. I don’t remember the details from long ago, but when I was first diagnosed with Graves, my endo asked me about sensitivity to light. I was significantly sensitive to light. I don’t think it has ever completely gone away. She indicated it was part of the Graves problem.

Excessive tearing accompanies dry eye conditions. My opthamologist’s office has a television in the waiting room which features loops on eye disease issues. One day while I was waiting there, the discussion on the TV was about thyroid related dry eye conditions. How fortuitous! Anyway, according to that program, the quality of our tears change when we have thyroid disease. Normal tears contain a fatty substance, that makes the tears somewhat viscous/thick. When we have thyroid disease, or perhaps it’s when we have TED, I’m not sure, the tears become more watery. Normal tears stay on the eyeball for longer periods of time than our watery tears do. And, as a result, our eyes dry out. If the eye doesn’t close completely when we sleep this problem will be even more pronounced. We appear to have more tears more frequently than normal when we have dry eyes, but these tears are not lubricating the eye with the same efficiency as our former, normal tears did. If the problem is serious for you, it is often possible to have plugs put in that will keep the tears on the eye for longer periods of time.

[snelsen]

#1065030

I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face, but not crying. Thanks for your replies. I wish I had the plugs to look forward to, but I already have them (at $500/eye, it took 5 seconds, and was not even a sterile procedure!) Of course I ams ure the plugs were sterile. I have noticed no difference at all. Guess I will try to find out if the plugs can make the tearing worse, cause it is. I sure can relate to driving and eyes tearing. I actually have decreased my driving to almost nothing, because of the extreme sensitivity to light (which makes them tear, but basically they tear for no reason.) Generally, I can count on dabbing my eyes over and over again all day long. I am really excited about seeing the strabismus surgeon, and the eyelid surgeon after that! Guess it shows to what depths I have gone to be happy and giddy about looking forward to a doctor’s appt! I carry drops and tissue everywhere. I use the lubricant and gel at night, and just ordered a special kind of tape (forgot the name right now, only remember very vividly that one roll is $32!) Hoping it will be easier to help my left upper lid stay shut while sleeping.
I know that I have said all this before. It was a nice surprise to get your note today, Kimberly, for I was feeling very discouraged about this. It helps so much for you to understand…….shirley

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