Expansion Instagram Post: Thyroid Eye Disease

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Though they seem to be miniscule, hormones in our body can affect a wide range of systems, including our eyes. Thyroid Eye Disease, also known as Graves’ eye disease, is a disorder that is triggered by one specific hormone’s receptor. This hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), is responsible for telling the thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make.

When the TSH receptor is overstimulated, or overactive, it can cause a great amount of inflammation. Since there are TSH receptors located in the tissues around the eyes, the over-activation of this receptor can cause inflammation in the eyes. 

Orbital fibroblasts are cells that play a pivotal role in the development of Thyroid Eye Disease. These cells are targets for autoantibodies in this disorder, as they portray a hyper-responsive phenotype.

Thyroid Eye Disease is an autoimmune condition, but the risk of developing it can be reduced by limiting smoking. An additional preventative measure to take includes using lubricating eye drops to limit your body from overcompensating for dry eye symptoms, which can ultimately cause inflammation.