1. EXOPHTHALMOS
By: McKenzie Stewart, Hanna George, Amber
Graves, & Jesse Winker
Table 4
Period 3

2. Exophthalmos is a disease affecting the eyes.
It occurs when soft tissue builds up in the eye
sockets and causes the eyeballs to
protrude, forcing the eyelids open.

3. Causes
Exophthalmos is most often caused by thyroid
problems, particularly Grave’s Disease.
Less often, it can be caused by something in the
eye socket such as:
 Cancerous tumor
 Mucocoele (mucus-filled cyst)
 Blood clots
 Eye injury
 Sinus infection
 Bacterial infection
In these cases, only one eye is usually affected.

4. Exopthalmos From Grave’s Disease
 About 80% of people with
Grave’s Disease will
develop orbital signs of
exophthalmos within 18
months
 It is bilateral but not
always
symmetrical, sometimes
leaving the patient cross-
eyed or to have eyes
pointing in completely
different directions
beyond their control

5. Epidemiology
 Exophthalmosis most common in middle
aged women and people who smoke but can
afflict anyone, including children.
 There are 5 or 6 cases of Exophthalmos in
every 100,000 people.
 It can develop months or even years after an
individual experiences thyroid problems
 In adult males, African Americans have a
2mm greater distance of globe protrusion
(23mm) than Caucasians (21mm). Females
show similar variation.

6. Symptoms
Symptoms include:
 One or both eyes bulging out of the socket (more
commonly both eyes)
 Dry, red, & itchy eyes
 Puffy or swollen eyes
 Irritation
 Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
 Limited eye movement
 Blurred/double vision
Symptoms will continue to worsen if not treated
and can lead to blindness.

7. Diagnosis
 An exophthalmometer is used to measure the
amount of protrusion
 Pain and compromised vision are also signs of
exophthalmos
 CT scans and MRIs help in identifying internal
causes of exophthalmos to help decide how
to treat the disease

8. Treatments
 Treatments depend largely on the cause
ofexophthalmos in an individual
 Stop smoking
 Use selenium supplements, such as brazil
nuts, meat, and fish.
 The corticosteroids method, utilizes medicine
to reduce swelling and inflammation.
 Orbital radio therapy
 Surgery

9. Works Cited
 Exophthalmos. (2006). Retrieved from
http://www.medicinechest.co.uk/index.php?option=com_nhs
&id=483&Itemid=0
 What is exophthalmos. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-exophthalmos.htm
 Exophtalmos- treatment - nhs choices. (2010, Decemer 16).
Retrieved from
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Exophthalmos/Pages/Treatme
nt.aspx
 Exophthalmos. (2010, February 25). Retrieved from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1218575-overview
 Roncevic, R. (2010). Clinic for plastic
surgery, belgrade, serbia. Retrieved from
http://roncevic.rs/cases/tumors-of-the-orbit-and-thyroid-
ophthalmopathy
 Polsdorfer, J.. "Exophthalmos." Gale Encyclopedia of
Medicine, 3rd ed.. 2006. Retrieved February 07, 2012 from
Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-
3451600609.html