How does Graves disease affect your eyes?

The eyes are affected through a separate, yet related disease called Graves' Ophthalmopathy. In Graves' Ophthalmopathy, the overactive thyroid targets the area surrounding eyes and may cause inflammation, redness, achiness, pink eye, eyelid retraction and bulging eyes. read more

Graves' disease can affect the eyes in a number of ways, including the following problems with three components of vision: Blurred vision can reflect dryness of the eye or damage to the optic nerve. An ophthalmologist can test clarity of vision and examine the cause. read more

An eye care professional can determine the presence of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy through a thyroid function test after observing common symptoms. The most common symptoms of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy, affecting about 30% of people with Graves' disease, are associated with inflammation, swelling and redness of the eyes. read more

Graves' disease sometimes causes inflammation and swelling in the soft tissues and muscles that surround the eyes, often causing the eyeballs to bulge or protrude from their sockets. Known as exophthalmos, or proptosis, bulging of the eyeballs is a distinguishing symptom of Graves' disease. read more