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  • Anonymous
    Participant
    February 23, 2004 at 1:20 pm
    Post count: 93172
    #1087624

    Hi, and welcome to our Board.

    If you are concerned about your eyes, you should see an opthamologist. The eye issues are related to the thyroid disease, but separate in terms of treatment and prognosis. Treating your thyroid will not affect the course of the eye disease.

    As to what might be causing the burning in the eyes: when we are hyperthyroid, the upper eyelids can tighten up, pull back, and keep the eyes from closing properly. This exposes the eye to longer amounts of air than normal, especially at night, and can dry the eyes out. At the same time, thyroid disease can cause a chemical change in the quality of our tears, making them runnier, and less (ironically enough) capable of keeping the eye lubricated well. As a result of both of these issues, we can get very dry, irritated eyes, even if we are seeing more tearing than normal. One way to counteract the problem somewhat is to get over-the-counter “artificial tears” (not the “get the red out” type of eye drop, but artificial tears) and put the drops in several times a day. This can help to prevent your cornea from getting scratched as a result of dryness.

    Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

    Anonymous
    Participant
    February 23, 2004 at 1:44 pm
    Post count: 93172
    #1024073

    Hello Everyone,
    I am so glad to have this board in which I can share my thoughts and feelings. I was recently told diagnosed with Grave’s disease 2-19-04. I am now taking propranolol and just started Methimazole. I am having a feeling of burning and itchy eyes along with feeling eye pressure. Is this common or does this mean that I will have bulging eyes. How do you determine if you will have bulging eyes and is there treatment for this. My doctor is hoping to put this into remission. Does that mean that I will not have any symptoms or will the eyes always bother me. Is there a specialist in my area?

    Thanks a million
    ‘ Anne

    Anonymous
    Participant
    February 27, 2004 at 4:08 pm
    Post count: 93172
    #1087625

    I was diagnosed with Graves disease in October 2003 and was put on ptu 100 mgs 3 times a day am down to 75 mgs twice a day now but when started I also had dry irritated eyes with a pressure feeling in them. I went to my eye doctor and had them checked and he said that I did not have TED but told me to watch them. Also said to find a picture of yourself before you got Grave’s and just refer to it every once in a while to see what your eyes looked like before and as soon as they look different if at all see your doctor. Hope this helped

    ariva

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