Eye problems

[EllieTa]

Hi, I wondered if anyone had had any eye problems with hypothyroidism? I have been very stressed for a long time and have developed a droopy eyelid.

[Flump12]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with hashimoto’s, subclinical, very mild. I have one droopy eyelid. Also had occasional blurred vision.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi there, I have mild TED (thyroid eye disease) with Hashimotos, so I would recommend you have a check up with your optician, who willl refer you to an ophthalmologist if they have any concerns. Eye inflammation (swollen lids), Puffiness around eyes and dark circles are common Thyroid symptoms and may improve if your thyroid and vitamin levels are optimal. Stress can make symptoms worse, so do try to do more things which help you relax.

Any blurriness, grittiness, double vision, pressure behind eyes etc definitely need to be checked out. If your eyes are dry at all, use preservative free drops (eg HycoSan Extra).

[Anthea55]

Droopy eyelids can run in the family - they do in mine, several people on my mum's side of the family have/had it. It's often referred to as 'ptosis'. I had both of mine operated on last year. It depends on how bad they get.

There will be other causes, so I don't know if it's particularly associated with hypothyroidism.

Certainly worth checking with doctor and/or optometrist.

[EllieTa in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you for your reply. . I’ll go to an optometrist. I just wondered if it was thyroid related.

[Timetraveler67 in reply to EllieTa]

Hi ellieta I don’t know if it’s related to being hypo but my eyelids dropped about 5 years ago also for the last 20 odd years I’ve suffered blister spots inside my lower eyelids, dry gritty eyes and also sty’s. I always thought my eye problems were M.E. CFS related Things have got worse since being diagnosed 3 years ago with hash, I’m black and puffy too now under my eyes x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I believe there can be a relationship:

Eur J Neurol

2003 Jan;10(1):87-90.

doi: 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2003.00544.x.

EMG myokymia as a cause of ptosis in hypothyroidism

Y L Lo 1 , S C Ho, L K Koh, D H Khoo

• PMID: 12535001

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2003.00544.x

Abstract

Ptosis is known to be associated with thyroid disorders. We describe two biochemically corrected hypothyroid patients presenting with isolated bilateral ptosis. EMG of the orbicularis oculi showed continuous grouped motor unit potentials. In the absence of obvious aetiology, it is hypothesised that focal demyelination of terminal branches to the orbicularis oculi may play a role in the generation of the discharges.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/125...

[Anthea55 in reply to helvella]

Thanks, Helvella, that's really interesting. I know that 2 of my 3 children have ptosis as have my brother and I. Then there's some old family photos of earlier generations. I don't know how much hypothyroidism was associated with them.

[Bearo]

My left eye is weepy. On waking both eyes are a bit teary and If I go outside in winter tears run down. I have no idea of the cause, but it’s running parallel with being diagnosed hypothyroid. The GP called it dry eye and gave me eye drops but they don’t seem to help at all. I’m 67.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Bearo]

I’d agree with your doctor. However, you need to put in masses of eye drops throughout the day - not just three times a day. Make sure you get preservative free eyedrops - HycoSan, Theolose Duo and various others - ask your optician - your GP might be prescribing cheap preservative filled drops but they are not good to use. You could also get a thick ‘gunky’ ointment for last thing at night. But whatever drops you use put them in as often as you can through the day and keep using them even when your eyes improve. Lots of people (me included) tend to stop using them because their eyes are fine - they’re only fine as long as they are using the drops.

Regular use of an eye bag or a squeezed out hot wet face cloth held over your eyes and then massaging your eyelids will help too.

Oh and I’ve been using this stuff - for my bones rather than my eyes but I feel it makes my eyes feel better - in that when I finished them and didn’t order more my eyes felt more uncomfortable and now I’m taking them again my eyes feel better. I them from Amazon

Vegan Omega 3 - Algae Oil, 90 Small Capsules (250mg DHA/Capsule), 3 Month Supply - Sustainable Alternative to Fish Oil

[Bearo in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks a lot for your reply. I just checked my eye drops and they do contain preservative.

I had been wondering how often to use the drops. The instructions are 3 times a day and initially I found I had to keep this up to prevent the problem . Then over summer I stopped using it as my eye seemed to be ok. When the problem recurred I was just using drops occasionally which wasn’t helping. I asked the GP if I needed to maintain regular application and she said no, it’s only when you have symptoms! Seems she knows as much about eye drops as she does about Thyroid!

I will enquire or research about the preservative, but I doubt the GP will agree to a more expensive version. Why is the preservative best avoided?

[tattybogle]

Just for general information , not because i think you have it;

But my GP once had an antibody test run on my bloods to check for MG (myasthenia gravis-spelling ?) , another autoimmune condition.

He wanted to rule this out because of 'ptosis' which i think means 'droopy eyelid'.

[EllieTa]

Did your 'ptosis' - droopy eyelid clear up?

[tattybogle in reply to EllieTa]

I never really had one , not permanently, it 's just what happens to my whole face when i run out of steam. Then when i'm better my face wakes up too. GP was just being careful , in case it was start of MG.

[EllieTa]

I see, thanks. I had the myasthenia antibody test and that was negative.