TED: List of Treatment Options

October 11, 2003

Hi Shelly,

I can mention some of the more basic treatment options for TED. These are things

you'd want to do before considering surgery or laser treatment.

Lots of drops--artificial tears, preservative free are better. A thicker drop or

gel for night. Someone recently mentioned boric acid washes as being soothing.

Some people tape their eyes shut at night to reduce irritation. I wear

sunglasses whenever I'm out of the house.

Flaxseed oil (EFAs) to reduce inflammation, 1 tablespoon per 100 lbs weight a

day, with a bit of protein like yogurt. Other useful supplements are B vitamins

and antioxidants, like alpha lipoic acid. I'm also taking a combination of

bilberry and lutein.

Keeping your thyroid levels from getting too high or low. Along these lines, if

you are taking an antithyroid drug, this can help reduce antobodies and hence

help your eyes.

Avoid cigarette smoking and smoke (I find even residue on a smoker's skin can

make my eyes itch uncontrollably--my boyfriend is trying to quit and hates it

that I can " detect it " when he cheats).

Get a baseline exam with someone who's experienced with TED, to rule out

pressure on the nerve.

Other steps to heal your immune system, such as avoiding sugar, cafeine (it's

not easy!), and saturated animal fats; practicing a stress reducing method like

yoga or meditation.

My doctor offered me a course of prednisone, a steroid, but as I understand it

the symptoms will rebound afterwards. Other options go from here. My eye doctor

is ready to do surgery on my " moderate " TED but I've been advised by people here

to wait till the antibody activity subsides, both because things can get worse

after surgery if you still have antibodies, and also because once you go into

remission, your eyes can improve. (/Hiroshima recently posted pix showing

great improvement in her eyes over the past year.)

Best wishes,

Recommended Posts