Doctor Gott: Double vision linked to Graves' disease
-->Q) Is Graves' disease curable? I have hyperthyroidism and double vision I'm told it is from the disease. What can I do?
A) Graves' disease is not curable, but it's completely treatable. This type of hyperthyroidism occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce an excess of a hormone known as thyroxine.
The immune system cannot be prevented from attacking the thyroid gland, but fortunately there are several treatments available to lower the production of thyroxine and ease the symptoms.
Signs of the disorder may include a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), hand or finger tremor, irregular heartbeats, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and weight loss.
The eyes may show signs of Graves' ophthalmopathy, which most notably causes them to protrude beyond their protective orbits. The lids swell, the eyes might become red and, infrequently, double or blurred vision may be present.
Other serious complications from Graves' involve the heart and include congestive heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation. CHF occurs when the heart is incapable of circulating sufficient blood to meet the needs of the body.
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormality of the rhythm of the heart. Then there's osteoporosis from untreated Graves' because excessive amounts of thyroid hormone leaches calcium from the bones, causing them to become brittle.
Treatment may include drugs known as beta blockers, radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medication to prevent the thyroid from producing excessive hormones.
Control with radioactive iodine will cause the gland to shrink, symptoms will be reduced, and the gland may ultimately reverse to a state of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) and require supplemental thyroid hormones.
This treatment option may worsen any symptoms of Graves' ophthalmopathy, so this may not be an option for you.
The use of anti-thyroid medication for a year or two may lead to long-term remission of the disease; however, relapse can occur.
Make an appointment with an endocrinologist if you haven't already done so. Visit a nutritionist who can review your diet and recommend specific foods to combat any weakness or fatigue.
Plan to have laboratory testing at least on an annual basis. By taking care of your general health, you should be able to lead a long, normal life.
Readers who would like related information can order my Health Report "The Thyroid Gland" by sending a self-addressed, stamped number No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 060349-0433. Be sure to mention the title when writing.
Causes Of Blurred Vision - News
The eyes may show signs of Graves' ophthalmopathy, which most notably causes them to protrude beyond their protective orbits. The lids swell, the eyes might become red and, infrequently, double or blurred vision may be present.
It causes blurred vision and severe vision loss. About 75000 new cases of DME are estimated to develop among Americans each year, according to the ADA. Lucentis patients in the studies were far less likely to see their disease progress to a more
Crohn's disease, an inflammatory disorder of the intestinal tract that causes abdominal pain and diarrhea. Iritis, an inflammatory disorder of the eyes that causes eye pain and blurred vision. Spondyloarthritis, an inflammatory disease that attacks the
Visual fatigue, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision are also characteristic of dry eye. Dry eye is a hallmark symptom of Sjogren's syndrome. Dry Eye Syndrome is a difficult disease to study due to environmental confounds, as well as the disease's
Blurred vision, with or without photic phenomena, was reported in 72 eyes; photic phenomena, with or without blurred vision, were reported in 29 eyes. Sixty-four eyes were suitable for treatment; 22 eyes underwent two or more treatment modalities.
What Can Cause Blurred Vision?
Remember when you were a kid and your parents told you to eat your carrots so you could see in the dark? Well there was actually something to that. Carrots are a great source of Vitamin A and beta carotene, which really does help your eyesight.
Studies have shown that people who regularly consume foods with these nutrients can actually decrease symptoms of blurred vision and other eye disorders. So what can cause blurred vision to begin with? It can actually be caused by several things and there may be something you can do at home to help relieve it.
People that watch TV for extended periods of time, read, or do extended work on a computer will often experience blurred vision after they have been working for awhile. This is because when you are reading or looking at a computer, you are working your eyes more than usual without looking around and exercising them and you tend to blink less.
If you do this kind of work, take frequent breaks to look around and if you are experiencing dry eyes, make a concentrated effort to blink more. Also, there are several eye drops on the market that can be helpful.
There are also eye disorders such as astigmatism and cataracts that can cause blurred vision. Astigmatism is when your cornea doesn’t properly project an image onto your retina and will cause headaches, squinting and blurred vision. Cataracts are caused when protein builds up on the lens of your eye and doesn’t allow light to filter through. Obviously, this will cause your vision to become blurry as well.
The good news is that there are several things that you can do to help your blurred vision. If it’s simply a matter of eye strain, rest your eyes every fifteen to twenty minutes by looking away from your computer. Make a concentrated effort to blink more. If none of this works for you, there are several different eye exercises that you can do to improve your vision in general, and there is always the option of glasses. If your blurred vision occurred suddenly or is accompanied by pain, you should see you doctor or optometrist because it may be a symptom of another illness.
In order to maintain good eye health, eat a balanced diet, use a quality eye supplement , and get plenty of sleep. Healthy living habits can help prevent illnesses such as diabetes that causes eye damage. Just as with the rest of your body, improper rest will cause your eyes to work harder than they have to and can cause blurred vision, so sometime the best thing that you can do for your eyes is close them!
Causes of blurred vision -
Causes of blurred vision -
Causes of blurred vision -
Causes of blurred vision - Causes Of Blurred Vision - Bookshelf
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