Graves' disease
Graves' disease
Graves' disease and its impact on vision.
What is Graves' disease?
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the function of the thyroid gland, leading to hyperthyroidism (excessive production of hormones).
How does Graves' disease affect the eyes?
One of the characteristic signs of this disease is exophthalmos (protruding eyes), which can significantly affect the patient's vision and appearance. It occurs as a result of inflammation and swelling of the tissues around the eyes (orbital tissues), which causes the eyeball to shift forward.
As a result, the patient may face a number of ophthalmological issues:
- Dry eyes: Due to the forward displacement of the eyeball, the natural tear film is diminished, resulting in dryness, irritation, and a sensation of sand in the eyes.
- Impaired vision: Exophthalmos can disrupt the normal movement of the eyeballs, affecting visual focus and coordination.
- Inflammation and swelling: Inflammation of the tissues around the eyes can lead to pain, redness, and swelling of the eyelids.
- Problems with eye mobility: in some cases, there may be a restriction in the movement of the eyeballs, leading to diplopia (double vision).
- Impaired aesthetic appearance: exophthalmos can significantly change the patient’s facial appearance, causing psychological discomfort.
Diagnosis of Graves' disease in ophthalmology
To diagnose ophthalmological complications caused by Graves' disease, specialists at our clinic use:
- Ophthalmological examination: vision testing, measurement of intraocular pressure, examination of the fundus.
- Ultrasound of the eyes: to determine the degree of exophthalmos and the condition of the eye tissues.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): used to evaluate the condition of the orbital tissues and eye muscles.
- Clinical tests: blood tests for thyroid hormones to confirm hyperthyroidism and the autoimmune nature of the disease.
Treatment methods for Graves' disease in ophthalmology
Our clinic employs modern surgical methods to correct exophthalmos, aimed at restoring the normal position of the eyes and improving the patient's quality of life.
1. Orbital decompression (orbitoplasty)
Orbital decompression is a surgical procedure aimed at reducing pressure in the orbit (eye socket) and decreasing the degree of exophthalmos. During the surgery, parts of the bone tissue surrounding the eye are removed, along with some fatty tissue, which helps "freed" the eyeball and reduce its forward protrusion.
2. Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Eyelid surgery may be necessary in cases of exophthalmos, where the forward displacement of the eyeball causes issues with eyelid closure. This can lead to dry eyes, irritation, and an increased risk of infection. In such cases, surgical intervention helps restore proper eyelid movement and function.
Types of surgery:
* Upper eyelid reduction: removal of excess skin or tissue to improve the ability to close the eyes.
* Lower eyelid correction: correction of the lower eyelid to prevent sagging and improve the condition of the tear film.
3. Eye Muscle Correction
In severe cases of exophthalmos, where the forward displacement of the eyeball causes issues with eye movement (such as diplopia—double vision), surgery on the eye muscles may be necessary. This procedure aims to correct the movement of the eyeballs, improve their synchronization, and eliminate double vision.
Types of surgery:
* Eye muscle synesthesia: surgical correction of the position of the eye muscles to restore normal eye mobility.
* Eye muscle transfer: Performed in cases of significant misalignment or dysfunction of the eye muscles.
4. Treatment using fat tissue transplantation:
In cases of severe exophthalmos and extensive damage to the orbital tissues, fat tissue transplantation can be performed to enhance the positioning of the eyeball and reduce its forward protrusion.
Benefits of exophthalmos surgery:
* Improved appearance: Surgeries help restore the normal position of the eyes, improving the patient's appearance and self-confidence.
* Improved visual function: Reducing pressure on the eye muscles and nerve can lead to restoration of normal vision.
* Increased comfort: Reduction of pain, inflammation and other unpleasant symptoms.
Treatment of Graves' disease requires careful monitoring of the patient's condition, since uncontrolled disease can lead to serious complications, including vision loss. Timely diagnosis and treatment help prevent or minimize the impact of the disease on vision. After starting treatment, it is important to regularly visit an ophthalmologist to monitor the condition of the eyes and adjust therapy.
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