When you’re suffering from thyroid eye disease (TED), it can be hard to focus on anything else. TED affects your eyes; symptoms like blurry vision, double vision, and even blindness can make it difficult for you to perform basic things.
It makes your life miserable. Not only does it affect your ability to drive, but also the ability to do simple tasks such as cooking and reading. You must avoid certain things if you suffer from any of these symptoms.
Risks Associated With Thyroid Eye Disease
It is essential to understand that thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disease. This causes eye inflammation. It leads to swelling and damages the muscles and nerves within the eyes. In rare cases, such inflammation might result in complete or partial blindness.
Yes, thyroid eye disease patients risk severe complications in 3%–5% of cases. The most severe complications include cataracts and glaucoma, which may cause vision loss. It’s, therefore, crucial to get medical aid right away. To ensure that conditions don’t worsen, take steps like avoiding certain things, as detailed further in the blog.
Don’t Just Take Any Medications
If you’re suffering from thyroid eye disease, don’t take any medications, eye drops, vitamins, and minerals without consulting the doctor. Even after consulting, it’s wise to perform prior research before using the prescribed product.
That’s because certain medications are shown to have severe side effects. They do more harm than good. Like in the case of Tepezza, the most prescribed medicine for thyroid eye disease, it is found to cause hearing loss and other auditory problems among patients who use it.
In response to such severe health impacts, victims have filed a Tepezza lawsuit. If it’s too late and you have already used Tepezza, I’d suggest you talk to your doctor about other alternatives. And if you are lucky enough not to come across this medication, still be cautious. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Keep Your Eyes From Drying Up
As per estimates, millions of Americans suffer from dry eye problems. Dry eye condition develops when the eyes fail to secrete enough tears. If you have TED and dry eye syndrome, keep your eyes lubricated.
You may use artificial tears or drops if necessary. You can also use a humidifier and a warm compress for temporary relief. These will help keep your eyes moist. Failing to do so might take a toll on your vision.
Cut Gluten From Diet
Gluten is also a common allergen, with 6-7% of Americans being intolerant to it. It is a protein present in wheat, barley, and rye. It can induce inflammation in the body. It may end up swelling the thyroid gland.
This can result in an inflamed esophagus, which may worsen your TED. Thus, avoiding foods containing gluten, like bread and pasta, is a good idea if you want to stay healthy and keep your thyroid healthy.
Limit the Blue Light Exposure
All digital devices, from laptops and mobile to LED and CFL bulbs, emit blue light. It causes digital eye strain. Approx 50% of digital device users are a victim of it. Digital eye strain makes our eyes tired. It causes dry eyes and blurred vision.
These symptoms can affect your ability to read clearly on screen or drive safely at night. If you suffer from thyroid eye disease, this can make everyday tasks difficult and painful due to the condition already causing so much discomfort. Therefore, limiting your blue light exposure for a quick recovery is highly advised.
Lower Your Iodine Intake
Iodine is a component crucial for thyroid function. It is found in foods like fish, seafood, and dairy products. Thyroid eye disease sufferers must avoid consuming more than 150 gm of iodine daily.
High levels of iodine can cause thyroid gland inflammation. If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, Graves’ Disease, or other hyperthyroidism and are considering taking an iodine supplement, please consult your physician first.
Avoid Added Sugar, Processed Foods, and Certain Beverages
It’s important to avoid added sugar, processed foods, and certain beverages. These items are unhealthy for everyone, but they are more toxic if you suffer from thyroid eye disease.
They can raise your blood sugar levels and increase your body’s insulin. The increased insulin interferes with the function of your thyroid gland, which can further worsen the condition.
Be Mindful
When suffering from thyroid eye disease, it is essential to be mindful of your food choices. Thyroid eye disease is associated with increased oxidative stress in the body and a weakened immune system.
You must ensure that you eat plenty of foods rich in calcium, vitamin D, selenium, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. These will help reduce inflammation throughout your body and strengthen your immune system.
It’s also vital that you minimize or avoid red meat and dairy products. These can cause more inflammation in the body, leading to further symptoms of thyroid eye disease, such as blurry vision or double vision (diplopia).
In addition to changing eating habits also lower your stress levels. Stress is one of the leading causes of thyroid eye disease and can cause symptoms to worsen. To reduce stress levels, consider meditating and other things that make you happy.
Lastly, If you are suffering from thyroid eye disease, it’s essential to take immediate measures. This condition might result in partial or permanent vision loss if left unaddressed.
Conclusion
If you’re suffering from thyroid eye disease, it can be overwhelming to understand how to combat it. Sometimes, it’s easy to feel sdasrinagar overwhelmed by your symptoms and forget what to do for yourself.
However, some things are essential for managing your eye problems and overall good health. By avoiding these common pitfalls when dealing with this illness, you’ll find it much networthexposed easier to overcome its challenges while staying positive.
