Sunshine:

Hello! I have TED and had the eye twitching and "grittiness" in my eyes for about a year before I was officially diagnosed (and that was 2 1/2 years ago)

BUT I didn't know about this forum until a year ago. So you are WAY ahead of the game in terms of educating yourself and taking charge of your health.

I found a daily dose of Nordic Natural Fish Oil and Black Currant Seed Oil along with 2 Brazil nuts a day helped me dramatically!

Now the "experts" say that a major trigger for Graves and TED is stress. So whatever you can do to minimize and then manage your stress will only help!

So much easier said than done huh?

So if I can offer some advice, don't stress and worry about your eyes; that probably won't help you too much. Focus on what you can control - do your best to eat whole foods (tons of veggies and low glycemic fruit), avoid processed foods and sugar.

I found so much support by reading some of the older posts on this website along with the Q and As on Elaine Moore's website! Information is power and we feel very powerless when we have Graves!

Feel better!

Kim

My eye issues started about 3 years ago, my left eye would get so itchy. There was nothing to do to relief it, about a month later i started seeing double and when I went to my eye doctor they could not explain it. That lasted about 4-5 months, but went away. In jan when I crashed my both eyes were blurry but only when I was tired. I am still waiting to know it I have Graves or Hashimoto. And it was only in the last week were my eyes were having more trouble.
I promise you though I am not worried. If you would have told me this back in Jan. I would have been a basket case. Since I now know that my thyroid is to blame for all my problems The weight has been lifted and I am so much better. I have been doing a lot of relaxing, Even though I am in lots of pain, I can't remember ever feeling as good as I do right now. I can't say it enough, but this site is amazing and informative. I am glad I found it. I will try the oils.
Thank you Kim :)

One of the early symptoms of TED is grittiness or the feeling of a foreign object in your eye. This does not mean you have or will have full blown TED. What it does tell you is...this is the beginning and you have time to correct what is wrong.

Its all about your thyroid levels. The same antibodies that attack our thyroids also attack our eye muscles. If you are hyper or hypo you generate those nasty antibodies..so...getting your FT4 up to the upper half of your ranges is what prevents more damage to both our thyroids and our eyes...Big Hugs...Kathy

What my neuro-ophthalmologist told me was to use moisturizing eye drops on waking, going to sleep, and once in the day. Whether my eyes were tearing a lot or just seemed dry, he said it was the same.

Thank you for the tips. I have my appointment for the internist on Wednesday of next week. I will ask him about this. I am not sure if I need an a referral to an eye specialist, or can my Internist help with this as well? There are so many aspects to this disease that I will need a planner just for it. LOL!

A board certified Ophthalmologist ( not a Optometrist ) is trained to diagnose and treat TED. Although it goes hand in hand with Graves Disease...it is a separate disease that needs unique and individual treatment. A good Ophthalmologist will work closely with your Endo or Internist. Again...its all about your levels..Big Hugs...Kathy

Thank you Kathy.

I had my eyes checked today, the Ophthalmologist said other than dry eyes they are fine. I need to use artificial tears.