Double vision

[Lisa31SW]

I am currently suffering from an onset of double vision which I haven’t had for ages but now seems to have returned with a vengeance. Is this related to Graves or hyperthyroidism or carbimazole? Please help feeling very low and sad about this.

[bantam12]

Thyroid Eye Disease can cause double vision, have you had your eyes checked ?

[Lisa31SW in reply to bantam12]

Yes I’ve had a problem with double vision before but I hadn’t had it for ages and now it’s returned

[Fruitandnutcase]

First of all if you have double vision you really need to see someone about it right away. Make an appointment with your optician asap..

Thyroid Eye Disease can cause double vision and it’s definitely related to Graves.

When my Graves was active I used to get a sort of double vision, it was vertical and things like signs and notices and the TV credits after programmes always had an extra shadow image below the writing. My vision was also very blurred, especially if I read for too long

I’d say my eyes felt a bit wonky before I was diagnosed, but I should have been diagnosed long before I was. It was certainly nothing to do with taking carbimazole. I saw my optician frequently and was fortunate that my vision never got worse than being a bit inconvenient.

I would make an appointment with a good local optician - ask around for recommendations - and see what they say, if they think you need to be referred to a specialist they will be able to refer you to the right place for you.

I wouldn’t bother with asking your doctor, I’ve found opticians know a lot more about conditions of the eye and in some areas (mine) opticians can refer directly to hospital, they are also more likely to know best which specialist to refer you to.

I used preservative free artificial tears regularly throughout the day and that helps a lot.

So if I were you I’d start by seeing your optician who will recommend artificial tears. I like HycoSan, there are different types so it will help to ask your optician which one for you, the other one I really like is Theolose Duo or Theolose Duo Gel. Your optician ought to have free samples for you to try to see which you like best.

You’ve got to keep using your eye drops even when your eyes feel better though - that’s where I fall down.

[Valarian]

I agree with Fruitandnutcase - see your optician, and explain your concerns. It may not be thyroid eye disease, but best to check. One thing I would say, is that if you smoke, now would be a good time to stop. Perhaps not easy if you’re worrying, but it is supposed to make things worse