

This then causes inflammation, which leads to the characteristic bulge. Thyroid eye disease causes the immune system to attack fatty tissue and muscles around the eye. It is most common among middle-aged women and smokers.

This disease affects one in three people who suffer from an overactive thyroid gland. The main cause of exophthalmos is Graves’ ophthalmopathy, also known as thyroid eye disease. Permanent vision problems are usually avoidable if you are quick to seek medical help for exophthalmos. If you notice your eyes bulging or protruding, even if you are not certain it is the case, see a doctor. If driving is legal but still deemed unsafe by a doctor, you should still avoid it. Refer to local law enforcement about whether you can do so legally. If your vision is affected, talk to a doctor about whether it would still be safe to drive or otherwise operate heavy machinery. In some cases, exophthalmos may render you unable to drive safely (or legally). Your doctor will be able to give you a specific idea of what to expect.īulging eyes, or exophthalmos, is a condition in which one or both eyes begin to bulge or protrude. The prognosis for recovery depends on the root cause of the exophthalmos, the severity, and how quickly you were able to get your symptoms under control. That situation calls for immediate medical help and resolution. Doctors especially watch for any compression of the optic nerve. Severe cases can lead to permanent disfigurement that may misalign the eyes (although this can usually be at least partially fixed with surgery). In other cases, extensive treatment and surgery may be necessary. In some cases, mild treatment is enough to reduce the bulging. There are also surgical options for more severe cases. Doctors start with medication, usually steroids, but they also recommend reversing personal habits, such as smoking, that can help the condition go away on its own. Treatment depends on the cause and the severity. The condition mostly affects smokers and middle-aged women. Formally known as exophthalmos, bulging eyes can be caused by a number of factors, primarily thyroid eye disease but sometimes cancer.
