Patient Resources

Thyroid Eye Disease Management Tips for Patients

Thyroid Eye Disease may bring new challenges, but these tips can help you continue to live your life

The true impact of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) goes well beyond the eyes. It can also have a big impact on all aspects of life. While these changes may not always be visible, they shouldn’t be overlooked. Along with learning how to speak up for yourself with your doctor, there are small adjustments you can make—in and out of the house—that can help manage your condition and help you live the life you want.

Tips for managing vision changes

What you may experience:

Pain and changes to your vision or how easily you can move your eyes can limit how well you do certain tasks. This can include:

  • Difficulty driving
  • Depending on others for care
  • Having to miss work because of symptoms
Ways to help:
  • Place furniture where you can see it
  • Put the TV and computer where there’s no glare
  • Try to always wear non-slip footwear
  • Use single-use products to avoid measuring
  • Have a designated place where you put things
  • If affordable, robot vacuum cleaners help reduce eye strain and tripping hazards while vacumming
  • Tape down rugs to avoid slips and falls
  • Tape or tuck away all cords to avoid tripping
  • Stay away from heavy air flow areas (like vents and fans)
  • Relieve swelling, redness, and irritation with a warm compress
  • Avoid eucalyptus as it can make eyes burn
  • Use saline solution or artificial tear drops as recommended by your doctor

Tips for managing emotional changes

What you may experience:

Dealing with TED can be frustrating, and you may feel embarrassed about how it changes the way you look. It’s not uncommon to feel:

  • Depressive feelings
  • Anxious
  • Self-conscious
  • A loss of self-worth
  • Like you don’t recognize yourself in the mirror
  • Disconnected from friends, family, and hobbies
Ways to help:
  • Meditation and breathing exercises are great ways to reduce stress and anxiety. Consider downloading a meditation app to your phone
  • Be mindful. Acknowledge your feelings but don’t dwell on the negative. Instead, embrace the positives
  • Listening to audio books can uplift and empower
  • Professional counseling can help you cope with emotional challenges