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Cause of thyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease, also called Graves' ophthalmopathy, comes from a buildup of certain carbohydrates in the muscles and tissues behind the eyes. The cause isn't known. It may involve the same antibody that can cause the thyroid gland to not work correctly.
Thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy) can cause vision loss, eye pain, bulging eyes and eyelid swelling. During your visit, your doctors talk with you about your concerns and assess your condition.
Mayo Clinic has been researching and treating Graves' disease and its associated eye-related changes — called thyroid eye disease or Graves' ophthalmopathy — for many years. Mayo Clinic also specializes in surgery to treat Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease.
Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the orbit that primarily affects patients with a history of Graves' hyperthyroidism. However, it is also seen in euthyroid and hypothyroid individuals who have never been hyperthyroid.
In about 20 percent of cases, the disease causes inflammation behind the eyes — a condition known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Rarely, people with the disease may develop Graves’ dermopathy — an inflammation of skin on the feet and lower legs.
Thyroid eye disease symptoms include bulging eyes and redness. The eyelids may not cover the eyeball all the way. This eye condition also is called Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Some people also may develop Graves' ophthalmopathy, a condition that causes redness and swelling around the eyes and bulging of the eyeballs within the eye sockets. Another potential, but uncommon, sign of Graves' disease is thickening and reddening of the skin, typically on the shins.
For thyroid eye disease, also called Graves' ophthalmopathy, these steps may help: Put cool, damp cloths on your eyes. This can soothe your eyes. Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet rays and bright lights can affect your eyes more if they bulge. Wearing sunglasses that wrap around the sides of your head can help.
Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland puts too much of those thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. Conditions that can lead to hyperthyroidism include: Graves' disease. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland.
People with Graves’ disease who have ophthalmopathy — a condition characterized by bulging eyes, swollen or retracted eyelids, and eye redness — may chose surgery to remove the thyroid over radioiodine because the inflammation that causes those eye symptoms can get worse with radioiodine. Ophthalmopathy usually improves after surgery.