Bulging Eyes Disease

Bulging Eyes And Thyroid Problems

Bulging eyes, like those seen in English actor Marty Feldman (left), are not the result of an eye disease, but are actually caused by a thyroid problem. Bulging eyes are caused by a form of Graves' disease, and more specifically Graves' opthalmopathy.

Graves disease is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland. But rather than destroying or disabling the gland, it triggers the overproduction of a thyroid hormone called thyroxine.

Graves opthalmopathy occurs when the antibodies attack a specific protein that is found only in selective parts of the body: namely, the back of the eyes and the thyroid. The antibodies do not attack other organs if the specific protein is not present in them.