Cataracts & Thyroid link?

[trishmarco]

2 failed cataract ops, an orbitologist said I had hyperthyrodism, and yet blood tests reveal thyroid OK? Not on any meds for hyperthrodism. Any comments?

[Marz]

If you have your thyroid results with ranges post them and people will be able to comment.... Blood tests are not always full proof and there can be a connection between thyroid and eye problems....

[trishmarco in reply to Marz]

thanks Marz - I'll do that

[Jackie]

Hi For thyroid make sure you had tSH, T4 and Free T3 tests as important for diagnosis. Often just TSH is done.

Jackie

[Treepie]

I learned yesterday that there is a genetic link between high ferritin and early cataracts which appears to mean under 35. Not sure how this would lead to failed operations.

[marram]

Is it possible that he meant you could have Graves' eye disease? It might be worth having a Graves' antibody test.

Graves' Eye disease has occasionally been seen in individuals who have the antibodies but the thyroid is still within normal ranges:

"Graves' eye disease can also be present when the level of thyroid hormone in the blood is normal or low, depending on the degree of glandular stimulation caused by the immune attack and by the amount of thyroid gland destruction present at the time of diagnosis. However, most patients with eye symptoms have abnormal hormone levels that are accompanied by specific antibodies in the blood stream. The components of the disease affecting the thyroid gland and the eyes have common causes, but evolve separately and must each be treated separately."

kellogg.umich.edu/patientca...

Graves' is actually not a thyroid disease per se, but the antibodies most commonly attack the thyroid AND the eyes, so it tends to be assumed with the eye being affected, that the thyroid must be too, hence calling it Hyperthyroidism.

Marie XXX

Hope this helps.

[trishmarco in reply to marram]

very much so - thanks Marie

[shaws Administrator]

There is hyperthyroidism but there is a separate disease called Thyroid Eye Disease. This is an excerpt:-

4 How does thyroid eye disease manifest itself and how is it treated?

Most patients presenting with the hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease will have some evidence of thyroid eye disease, ranging from lid retraction with excessive lacrimation in bright light to marked exophthalmos with limited eye movements, diplopia and reduced visual acuity.

The hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease are best considered as two separate, organ-specific autoimmune conditions, which frequently coexist. This explains why the eye disease may precede the hyperthyroidism or even occur for the first time years after successful treatment of hyperthyroidism.

The eye disease has its own natural history – a period of deterioration, followed by one of stability and ultimately of some improvement. But the ophthalmopathy will worsen if thyroid function is not controlled – whether through inadequate or excessive treatment.

The eye changes often persist for two to three years after successful treatment of the hyperthyroidism and although there may be significant improvement there is often residual disease, which can be improved by orbital decompression, strabismus surgery and eyelid surgery.

Of all treatments of the hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease, iodine-131 therapy is associated most often with a worsening of the ophthalmopathy. For that reason it is relatively contraindicated in patients with significant eye disease. For these it may be better to use combination therapy with carbimazole and levothyroxine for the best possible control of thyroid function.

But if radioiodine is the chosen therapy, enteric-coated prednisolone 30-40mg daily should be prescribed for six weeks, as this has been shown to prevent deterioration of ophthalmopathy.

****

If you can get a copy of your blood test results from the surgery, with the ranges, and post on a new question for comments, if you don't have them to hand at present members will comment.

As well as the blood tests recommended above, ask for antibodies to be checked too.

[trishmarco in reply to shaws]

that is the most thorough explanation of the connection between the two, as I am reading everyone else is on some sort of treatment. I really appreciate your assistance

[Healthseeker]

Sorry can't comment on thyroid link but cataract incidence is greatly increased (I forget the figure) by taking statins just in case that's relevant to you.

[Silver_Fairy]

I have Graves and according to my optician I will suffer from cataracts in the future. I think my mother may have undiagnosed thyroid problems, she's 92yrs, and she has had cataracts in both eyes (operated on successfully when she was in her 70's) and my brother, no obvious signs of thyroid problems, had cataracts in his 50's.

[trishmarco in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Yes my orbitologist says it is Graves that I am suffering from. Thanks Silver_Fairy