If you’ve noticed that your eyes seem to be bulging, irritated, or puffy, you might be wondering if something more serious is going on. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy, can be a bit tricky to pinpoint, but understanding it is the first step toward getting the help you need.
In this guide, we’ll explore what TED is, how to identify it, and what thyroid eye disease treatment available. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms yourself or just curious, we’re here to break it down in a way that’s easy to grasp and helpful.
What is Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)?
Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition that affects the eyes and is associated with thyroid dysfunction, particularly hyperthyroidism. In TED, the tissues around the eyes become inflamed and swollen, leading to various symptoms that can affect your vision and eye comfort. The disease is often linked to Graves’ disease, a common cause of hyperthyroidism, but it can also occur in individuals with other thyroid disorders.
Do your eyes look or feel different lately? Here are some signs that might indicate TED:
- Bulging, irritated, and puffy eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Pressure or pain in the eyes
- Blurred or double vision
Differentiating TED from Other Eye Diseases
TED is typically caused by hyperthyroidism, where your thyroid gland is overactive. This condition affects your thyroid hormones and how your body uses energy. If you have TED, you might also notice symptoms related to hyperthyroidism, such as:
- Weight loss despite an increased appetite
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Nervousness, irritability, trouble sleeping, and fatigue
- Shaky hands and muscle weakness
- Excessive sweating or trouble tolerating heat
- Frequent bowel movements
- An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
Treatment Options for TED
For mild cases of TED, symptoms can often be managed with simple measures such as eye drops, eye masks, and sunglasses. In more severe cases, treatment may involve steroids, surgery, or radiation therapy.
Why Seek Treatment Even If Symptoms Are Mild?
Untreated TED can lead to serious complications, including vision loss. The disease causes an increase in material accumulating in your eye socket, due to:
- Enlargement of extraocular muscles from fluid swelling
- Production of glycosaminoglycans by orbital fibroblasts, which absorb water and swell
- Expansion of fat tissue in the eye socket
These changes can lead to proptosis (bulging of the eyes) and compression of the optic nerve, potentially resulting in double vision or even loss of sight. Recent studies highlight that fat tissue accumulation significantly aggravates TED.
Moreover, untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications such as heart issues, muscle problems, osteoporosis, and fertility issues, making early treatment crucial.
How Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Can Help
Recent research suggests that TCM can be a valuable adjunctive treatment for TED. Chinese herbs may help by:
1. Reducing Inflammation
Celastrus (南蛇藤) inhibits inflammatory cytokines that worsen eye inflammation.
Gynnostemma (绞股蓝) offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, reducing eye tissue damage.
2. Reducing Fat Tissue Overgrowth
Herba Epimedii (淫羊藿) inhibits the transformation of immature fat cells into mature ones.
Prunella vulgaris L (夏枯草) promotes the death of excess fat cells in the eyes.
3. Combining Both Effects:
Tripterygium (雷公藤) alleviates symptoms caused by inflammation and fat accumulation.
Astragalus (黄芪) reduces both inflammation and fat accumulation, offering protective benefits to eye tissues.
Acupuncture for TED
Acupuncture, alongside Chinese herbs, can also be beneficial in treating Graves’ Hyperthyroidism and TED. For more information about how acupuncture can aid in managing TED, click here.
Taking The Next Step
If you’re experiencing symptoms of TED, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider. Understanding your condition and exploring treatment options is the best way to take control of your health. TED can be challenging, but with the right information and support, you can manage it effectively and protect your vision.
Appendix: Compounds in TCM Herbs and their effect on Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)
Diosgenin From Trigonella foenum-graecum (胡芦巴) or Dioscorea Bulbifera (黄药子)
- Dio selectively affects the proliferating thyroid rather than the normal thyroid, suggesting that Dio may be a safe anti-goiter agent to avoid hypothyroidism.
- The target of Dio may not be expression of TRAB, but thyroid cell proliferation.
- Dio can inhibit the overexpression of proliferation-related proteins in the thyroid in GD.
Resveratrol From Reynoutria japonica Houtt (虎杖)
- GO orbital fibroblasts are hypersensitive to oxidative stress.
- Resveratrol can reduce the production of ROS, adipogenesis of orbital fibroblasts, and lipid droplet accumulation.
Icariin From Epimedium Brevicornu Maxim (淫羊藿)
- Icariin inhibits the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes by inhibiting autophagy.
- Icariin reduces adipose tissue dilation in orbital muscle and lipid drop accumulation by inhibiting autophagy.
Celastrol From Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb (南蛇藤)
- It has been reported that IL-1β expression is higher in orbital tissues of GO patients, and IL-1β mediates inflammatory response.
- Celastrol inhibits IL-1β, and thus inhibits IL-1β-induced production of orbital fibroblast cytokines IL-6, IL-8, ICAM-1, and COX-2, all of which are key to the inflammatory response of GO patients.
Gypenosides From Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (绞股蓝)
- Gypenosides may play anti-inflammatory and antioxidant roles in GO, thereby reducing tissue damage and remodeling caused by orbital inflammation and oxidation.
Astragaloside IV From Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (黄芪)
- Astragaloside IV treatment reduces IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokine production and reduces GO orbital inflammation, fat accumulation, collagen deposition, and macrophage infiltration.
- Its protective effect is also associated with decreased autophagy activity of orbital fibroblasts and orbital tissues.
Active Ingredients From Prunella vulgaris (夏枯草)
- Spica Prunellae promotes adipocyte apoptosis in GO.
Triptolide From Tripterygium wilfordii (雷公藤)
- Triptolide can relieve the clinical manifestations of exophthalmos, diplopia and periorbital swelling caused by inflammatory cell infiltration and accumulation of adipose tissue in the extraocular muscle and orbital connective tissue.
- Triptolide inhibits IFN-γ-induced orbital fibroblasts activation and cell in GO patients.
Bupleurum Saponins From Bupleurum Falcatum (柴胡)
- Bupleurum Saponins have good bidirectional regulation effects on hyperthyroidism and secondary hypothyroidism.
Who Am I?
Hope you learned something from our article on Acupuncture for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Chinese Medicine is able to help with TED — there are things we can do to feel better.
I’m Dr. Mark Chern, a doctor who specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). My role here is in helping people manage their Thyroid conditions, including TED. I work with Thyroid Eye Disease using a TCM framework. We look at your whole body, not just your eyes.
I want to help you feel better. Let’s work together to find a plan that works for you. Here are some benefits of booking a consultation with me and following my TCM treatment plan for Thyroid Eye Disease:
1. Reduction in Inflammation: TCM treatments, which include acupuncture and herbal formulations, help to reduce the inflammation in and around your eyes, alleviating symptoms like dryness, swelling and discomfort.
2.Improved Eye Health and Vision: Through customzied herbal formulations, TCM can support eye health and reduce the severity of symptoms like double vision and light sensitivity.
3.Holistic Framework and Balance: TCM can tweak with your body imbalances, which is not limited to the discrete definition of hyper or hypo thyroid conditions.
Let’s get started on your path to feeling better!
FAQs
1. Will thyroid eye disease go away?
Yes, thyroid eye disease (TED) is typically self-limiting. Most patients transition from the active inflammatory phase to a stable phase within 1 to 3 years. While symptoms may worsen initially, they often improve over time. However, there is a 5-10% risk of recurrence.
2. What vitamins help thyroid eyes?
Selenium is beneficial for managing thyroid eye disease, particularly in mild cases. It may reduce inflammation and improve quality of life. While vitamins A, C, and E support overall eye health, specific evidence linking them to TED management is limited.
3. What worsens thyroid eye disease?
Factors that can worsen TED include:
- Smoking: Significantly increases severity.
- Radioactive Iodine Treatment: May exacerbate symptoms.
- Thyroid Dysfunction: Fluctuations in hormone levels can aggravate symptoms.
- Stress: Can trigger immune responses that worsen TED.
- Pregnancy: Hormonal changes may lead to new or worsening symptoms.
