Graves Disease: Bulging Eyes Sign and Symptom

Graves’ Disease is associated with swelling of the tissue around the eyes, exhibiting an appearance of bulging or protruding eye(s). It is a type of autoimmune disease that causes over-activity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

Your thyroid gland helps set the rate of metabolism, which is the rate at which your body uses energy. If your thyroid is too active, it makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. This high level of thyroid hormones may cause weight loss, rapid heart rate and nervousness. Or in some cases no symptoms at all.

Graves’ disease can be caused by:

Bulging eyes Graves disease is uncommon.

The three treatments for Graves’ Disease are:

  • thyroid gland removal by surgery
  • radioactive iodine which eventually destroys the thyroid gland
  • anti-thyroid drugs that can lower the amount of thyroid hormones made by the thyroid

Thyroid replacement hormones will be required for the rest of a person’s life with the destruction or removal treatments.

The most common signs and symptoms besides bulging eyes of Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism:

Do not mistake prominent eyes (pug eyes) as bulging. Earlier photograph comparison may assist in determining a change in a person’s eye(s).

When left untreated, Graves’ Disease can lead to heart or pregnancy problems.

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