Symptoms of TED

I have a Thyroid Disorder. Does that mean I have Eye Disease too? 

Simple answer is no. Many patients confuse their systemic thyroid disorder (Hyper or Hypothyroidism), with the thyroid eye disease (TED). Not every patient with thyroid disorder will have thyroid eye disease. Thyroid disorder (hyper or hypo) is diagnosed by measuring blood thyroid levels. If abnormal, it can affect every function of the body, and hence requires treatment.

How do I suspect that I might have Thyroid eye disease?

Thyroid eye disease can affect you very subtly, or with obvious signs. How it affects you may vary from patient to patient, but here are some common signs to look for:                                                            1)Pain: Dull ache or pain around the eye, which is present at rest or upon eye movements.                      2) Dry eyes: A dry gritty sensation and resultant  reflex watering.                                                                      3) Swelling: Swelling in the eyelids, or redness of the white part of the eye.                                                    4) Prominence of the eyeball: You may feel that the eye is bulging out more than usual.                          5) Double vision:  You may see double intermittently, or at all times. Most patients report a morning stiffness, where the double vision is maximum.                                                                                                      6) Reduced vision: In severe cases, there is blurring, reduced vision or color vision.                                    7) Changed appearance: Such as bulging scary eyes, excess fat bags, or chronic red eyes.

What does the eye plastic surgeon do in addition?

Thyroid eye disease is diagnosed clinically by an eye plastic surgeon. Assessment of your vision, forward protrusion of the eye (proptosis), measuring the swelling and redness around the eye (clinical activity scoring), eyelid measurements, and checking eye ball movements are some of the tests done by the eye plastic surgeon to find out if you have thyroid eye disease.  Sometimes, a CT scan may also be required. Hence, thyroid disorder needs blood tests, and consultation with an endocrinologist. Thyroid eye disease needs regular eye check-up with an eye plastic surgeon. These two are fairly independent of each other in their onset, and course.

If you have a thyroid disorder, only a visit to an eye plastic surgeon will confirm if you have thyroid eye disease as well.