Thyroid Eye Disease and Surgery in Philadelphia

Thyroid eye disease can be painful, cosmetically unsightly and can cause you to lose vision.

There are several different approaches to treating this eye disease, and it is essential to meet with a qualified ophthalmologist if you are seeking help. At Morgenstern Center for Orbital and Facial Plastic Surgery, our greater Philadelphia facial and oculoplastic surgeons are experienced and can help you decide if surgical intervention is necessary.

The autoimmune problems that lead to thyroid disease can also lead to thyroid eye disease, although they are two separate health conditions. Thyroid disease does not directly cause these eye problems, and as such, treatment for thyroid disease may or may not resolve the eye problems. An abnormal antibody attack on the thyroid gland can also affect the tissues around your eyes, causing them to become inflamed and swollen, which leads to a variety of serious symptoms.

These symptoms and problems can be cosmetically and physically detrimental. They can lead to poor vision, impaired eyelid function, discomfort, and the appearance of eyes that are open too wide or baggy eyelids. Our facial surgeons have extensive training and experience in reconstructive and corrective facial surgery, including surgery to repair the damage of thyroid eye disease.

Some of the most common problems associated with thyroid eye disease are:

• Dry, irritated eyes
• Baggy, swollen eyelids
• Double vision
• Vision loss
• Eyelid retraction
• Eye protrusion