[Anonymous]

#1022481

Hey…..I would suggest her opthomologist recommend an occuplastic surgeon. I saw one from Jan 03 – Aug 04 along w/my optho and now I am in the cold phase of the eye disease. I had steroid treatment (began 3/03) to help the inflammation and swelling (even though it continued), radiation to the eyes (8/03) to help calm down the inflammation due to swelling and this did help alot. In between these two treatments I had to have orbital decompression (May 03) on the left eye because of the swelling pushing on the optic nerve. I will also mention I had my thyroid surgically removed in May 03 also. I just had eyelid surgery May 04 (lowering of upper lids)and this has helped alot with burning and seeing!! I had gotten double vision back in July 03 and it went away just before my eyelid surgery……I still have it looking up or down though. I will probably have lower lids upped some to aid more in burning, but later. You should wait a good 6-9 mos during surgeries.

My protrusion at its worse was only 27/28 and now is 24/25 (maybe less because I haven’t had them measured in a while), and I have read some have lots worse than me!! I feel for them!! I don’t know what your wife has, but I bet she can see this specialist and you and she can determine if and what surgeries will be good for her!! Orbital decompression is nothing to want if you don’t have to, but you will hear this from the surgeon!! Good Luck

[Anonymous]

#1082903

Hi! to all on the message board.

Has any of you had the “bulging eyes” condition as I do from Graves? Have you recovered from it without surgery?

Thanks for your input.

krc

[Anonymous]

#1082904

Hi KRC,

It is possible to have only temporary eye worsening while we go through treatment for our Graves’ disease.

How long have your eyes be bulging? Have you had a baseline eye exam to see how they are doing?

Often it needs a course of steroids to reduce swelling. Your eye doctor can give you the best answer after a through exam. Mine did not get better on their own. I needed surgery and steroids as well as orbital radiation later.

We are only a click away.

Jake George
On-line Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1082905

Thank you, Jake for your reply.

I have had the bulging eyes for 6 weeks. My opthalmologist has been assessing the
condition since I was experiencing Graves symptoms- 8 weeks ago.

So far, I had a CT scan of the orbits, which will be used as a baseline for the muscles surrounding the eyes. The results were normal.

My opthalmologist has not presribed oral steroids, because of my type 1 diabetes. I’m using pred forte eye drops intead, a type of steroid.

My endocrinologist has ordered a thyroid uptake scan for mid-January, so my treatments haven’t begun yet. Only a beta blocker. We’ll see what comes next…

I’m sorry to read that your eyes did not respond to treatment and that you had to have surgery on them.

[Anonymous]

#1082906

Jake,
I’m think I’m just a step or two behind you in treatment and was wondering what your current eye condition is after your surgery, steriods and orbital radiation? Would you have done anything different? Also, how severe was your eye condition? Thanks. Anything
at this point would be helpful in determining my course of action.

[Anonymous]

#1082907

Hi there,
I was diagnosed with graves disease last year (2005), I have recently had a total thyroidectomy, Which went pretty well just a few calcium problems which hopefully they will sort out over the next few weeks or so. I was just wondering about my eyes have anyone who have had this done noticed that their eyes get better or do they get worse or do they stay the same, I was jsut wondering abour some kind of surgery that could be done so that they don’t look so bulgy, if that makes sense to you.

Anyway thanks in advance.

regards
Jess (UK)

[Anonymous]

#1082908

Getting our thyroid issues fixed does nothing for the eyes, typically. There are one, or two, distinctly minor issues with the eyes that are directly related to the aberrant (sp?) hormone levels, and these often subside after effective treatment. But anything associated with TED, which includes actual protrusion of the eyes, only subsides — sometimes — when the TED goes into remission.

Your best bet would be to consult, if you can, with an opthamologist (the M.D. specialty that deals with eye disease).

Wishing you luck,
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Author]

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