eye disorders
Bulging Eyes
Evaluation of Bulging Eye
The following information can help people decide when a doctor's evaluation is needed and help them know what to expect during the evaluation. In people with bulging eyes, certain symptoms and characteristics are cause for concern. They include Loss or decrease of vision Double vision Eye pain or redness Headache Fever Pulsation of the bulging eye Bulging eye in a newborn or child People with warning signs should see a doctor as soon as possible, as should those with bulging that has developed over a few days or less. People with no warning signs should see a doctor when possible, but a delay of a week or so is unlikely to be harmful. Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause for eye bulging and the tests that may need to be done (see table). Doctors ask How long the bulging has been present Whether both eyes are bulging Whether bulging seems to be getting worse Whether the person has other eye symptoms, such as dryness, increased tear formation, double vision, loss of vision, irritation, or pain Whether the person has symptoms of Hyperthyroidism , such as inability to tolerate heat, increased sweating, involuntary shaking movements (tremors), anxiety, increased appetite, diarrhea, palpitations, and weight loss Bulging that has developed rapidly (over a few days) suggests different causes than bulging that has developed over years. Rapid bulging in only one eye suggests bleeding in the eye socket (orbit), which can occur after surgery or injury, or infection or inflammation of the eye socket. Bulging that develops slowly suggests Causes (when it affects both eyes) or a tumor in the eye socket (when it affects one eye). The physical examination is focused on the eyes. Doctors examine the eyes for redness, sores, and irritation using a What Is a Slit Lamp? (an instrument that enables a doctor to examine the eye under high magnification). They check whether the eyelids move as fast as the eyeball when the person looks down and check for staring. Slow eyelids and staring could indicate Graves disease. Doctors may also check for other signs that could indicate hyperthyroidism, such as increased heart rate or blood pressure, tremors, and a swollen or tender thyroid gland in the neck. Sometimes doctors, usually ophthalmologists, measure the degree of bulging with an instrument (exophthalmometry). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) is often done when bulging affects only one eye. Blood tests to measure how well the thyroid is working are done when Graves disease is suspected. 