Exophthalmia

Exophthalmos,

or exopht halmia, is a protruding eyeball anteriorly out of the orbit (eye socket). The Greek word ophthalmos means "eye" and the Greek word ex means "out". Exophthalmos can be either bilateral (both eyes bulge out) or unilateral (just one eye bulges out)

Causes

Thyroid eye disease-is a condition in which the soft tissues and muscles surrounding the eyes become swollen and inflamed. This condition is closely linked to hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), . Autoimmune diseases -If the person's immune system starts attacking good tissue they have an autoimmune disease - the immune system is attacking parts of the person's body that are needed for good health.

If the patient's immune system attacks the thyroid gland it often reacts by producing more hormones than normal. The excess thyroid hormone, as well as the autoimmune antibodies may attack the muscles and soft tissue surrounding the eyes, causing: Dry eyes (often described as gritty eyes) Redness Puffy eyes Inflammation and swelling Problems with eyesight Exophthalmos (bulging or protruding eyes) Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). This is most common disease which leads to exophthalmia .

Inherited diseases Proptosis (eyeball protrusion, one eye) - the presence of something in the eye-socket can cause proptosis, such as:A cancerous tumor Mucocele(mucus-filled cyst) A blood clot Trauma (eye injury) Sinus infection

How Graves disease cause bulging of the eye

the bulging develops because the tissues in the eyeballs swell, and the number of cells in the eye increases - resulting in larger eyes which push forward from their orbits (sockets). The human eye sockets are rigid and cannot expand to accommodate the larger eyeball. As the eyeball protrudes the eyelid is forced apart, giving the patient a staring expression with a higherthan normal proportion of the whites of the eyes exposed.

Symptoms

Bulging or protruding eyeballs (either one or both)

Symptoms of Graves disease. Pain in the eyes Dry eyes Eye irritation Sensitivity to light (photophobia) Lacrimation - eye secretions and shedding of tears Diplopia - double vision caused by the weakening of the eye muscles Progressive blindness, if the optic nerve is compressed Difficulty in moving eyes - as the eye muscles weaken the patient may find it harder to move the eyes. In some cases the eyes may turn inwards (amblyopia).

Treatment

Thyroid problems - the doctor will treat whatever is causing the thyroid problem so that thyroid hormone levels are brought back to normal. Surgery - if there is a problem with the connection between the arteries and veins in the eyes the patient may have to undergo surgery. Eye drops - if the patient suffers from dry eyes, eye drops will help keep the eyeballs moist - it is important to keep the cornea lubricated. Eyeshades - eyeshades may be required if the patient suffers from photophobia (oversensitivity to light). Corticosteroids - for patients whose eyes are especially painful or swollen (inflamed), the doctor may prescribe corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are effective in reducing swelling and inflammation. A tumor - most likely the doctor will talk to the patient about removing the tumor surgically, as well as using chemotherapy, radiotherapy (radiation therapy), or a combination.

Treating Graves disease

The treatment goals for Graves' disease are to inhibit the production of thyroid hormones and to block the effect of the hormones on the body. Some treatments include: Radioactive iodine therapy-With this therapy, you take radioactive iodine, or radioiodine, by mouth. Because the thyroid needs iodine to produce hormones, it takes up the radioiodine, which destroys the overactive thyroid cells over time. This causes your thyroid gland to shrink, and problems lessen gradually, usually over several weeks to several months. Anti-thyroid medications- Anti-thyroid medications interfere with the thyroid's use of iodine to produce hormones. Beta blockers-These medications don't inhibit the production of thyroid hormones, but they do block the effect of hormones on the body.

NOT diagnosed with Exophthalmia !