Is there a blood test or TED?

[Rosie2-2]

I just wondered if there is a blood test for TED, I have Graves but my eyes are really aching especially when I get tired at night. Could this be a sign?   Thank you.

[Fruitandnutcase]

My eyes ache a lot. I'm in remission now but when my Graves was at its worst I had vertical double vision in that when I was looking at the credits on TV I got the writing and another image below it, I couldn't read for very long because when I did I couldn't see straight - everything was totally blurred. My eyes were incredibly dry yet they watered all the time too. 

I found that getting myself some preservative free eye drops and using them frequently throughout the day made a huge difference. I also had thicker gunky gel to use at night, again preservative free. I used to soak a face cloth in hot water, squeeze it out and hold it over my eyes like a compress, that felt lovely. 

Every time I visite an endo they would say 'and your eyes are fine' and I would say 'no they're not'. Obviously because they weren't actually bulging that was ok for them.

My eyes are still dry and my vision still gets blurred if I stop the eye drops - it's easy to do that when they don't ache but I should know by now it's not a good idea. I think once you have dry eyes you are stuck with them.

You should speak to a good ophthalmic optician - ask around and see who had a good reputation locally - or else ask your doctor or endo to refer you to an ophthalmologist who specialises in TED but I would have an eye test and find out about preservative free eye drops etc would be a good place to start. Your optician ought to be able to advise you.

[Rosie2-2 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you so much.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Rosie2-2]

I would ask to be referred to a Moorfields Eye Clinic - at most of the hospitals. There is also a walk-in at most of them if your eyes are troublesom.

[SmallBlueThing]

I had dry eyes which I think were worsened by taking a statin.  After complaining about them at just about every GP appointment I can recall, when I mentioned Hyabak drops the book of potions was consulted and I was immediately issued a prescription.

I ceased taking the statin and my eyes improved immediately.  There was some discomfort recently, which may have been due to curry spices.

Specsavers are one high street chain of opticians who test intraocular pressure.  They are really testing for the risk of glaucoma in the over-40s, but should act on your concerns and write to your GP if they find anything untoward.

[Rosie2-2 in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Thank you so much.

[Arab]

Hi Rosie2-2

I have TED. My eyes don't bulge, but the test was an MRI scan that confirmed it.  (My doctor had sent me home with a tube of cream for eczema of the eyelid. Twit!)

I eventually got to see an ophthalmologist who gave me steroid drops, but I didn't get onwith them. But he also said that a daily dose of selenium 200mg had been found to be as effective a treatment for TED as anything else.  

I've now been taking it for 18 months, and my TED although still present at the moment is much improved. 

Hope this helps you. 

Arab. 🙂

[Rosie2-2 in reply to Arab]

Thanks for that, it's useful and your doctor seems about as good as mine.