Gazi University (GÜ) Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology Prof. Dr. Onur Konuk “Approximately 5 percent of patients with toxic goiter were found to have vision-threatening thyroid ophthalmopathy”

Thyroid ophthalmopathy in patients with Graves’ disease, which is one of the most common thyroid diseases in Turkey and is popularly known as “toxic goiter”. This condition can result in permanent vision loss and blindness if the appropriate treatment process is not managed. In studies conducted by the European Graves Ophthalmopathy Group, which includes Turkey, it was determined that approximately 5 percent of patients with toxic goiter have vision-threatening thyroid ophthalmopathy. It usually manifests itself with redness and watering of the eyes, more pronounced lid swelling and redness, especially in the morning, within the first year after the onset of goiter disease, and those who consult a physician with these complaints can be diagnosed with eye involvement due to goiter disease. Thyroid ophthalmopathy causes symptoms such as eye dislocation and dilated eyes, strabismus and double vision. In this process, patients are evaluated by ophthalmologists and endocrinologists and are taken into treatment protocols such as medications or radiotherapy according to their findings. In this way, thyroid tests are normalized and eye findings are improved. In cases where the appropriate treatment process is not managed, the condition progresses and affects the optic nerve and clinical findings that may result in permanent vision loss and blindness are observed. In this period, surgical treatments come to the agenda in cases that cannot be treated with drugs. Surgical treatments for goiter disease or eye findings are evaluated by specialist physicians. Awareness should be raised about eye involvement, which is a preventable cause of blindness due to goiter disease.

February 2025