Background

Condition Lookup

Number of Conditions: 6

Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves' Ophthalmopathy)

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Inflammatory or Immune-Related Disorders

Symptoms:
bulging eyes; dry eyes; red eyes; double vision; eyelid retraction

Root Cause:
Inflammation and swelling around the eyes due to thyroid dysfunction.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, thyroid function tests, imaging studies.

Treatment:
Steroids (Prednisone), radiation therapy, orbital decompression surgery.

Medications:
Corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisone ), biologics (e.g., Teprotumumab ), and lubricating eye drops.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 25–50% of people with Graves' disease; more common in middle-aged women.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Thyroid dysfunction, smoking, family history of autoimmune disorders.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms often improve with thyroid treatment; severe cases may require surgery.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Double vision, corneal exposure, optic nerve compression leading to vision loss.

Eye Allergies (Allergic Conjunctivitis)

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Inflammatory or Immune-Related Disorders

Symptoms:
itchy eyes; red eyes; tearing; eye swelling

Root Cause:
Immune system overreaction causes inflammation of the conjunctiva.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Patient history, examination to determine underlying cause.

Treatment:
Antihistamine drops (Olopatadine), cold compresses, oral antihistamines.

Medications:
Antihistamine/mast cell stabilizer eye drops (e.g., Olopatadine , Ketotifen ), corticosteroids for severe cases (e.g., Loteprednol ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 10–30% of the population, especially during allergy seasons.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Exposure to allergens (pollen, dust mites, pet dander), family history of allergies.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms are manageable with medications and allergen avoidance.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic irritation, secondary infections due to frequent eye rubbing.

Scleritis

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Inflammatory or Immune-Related Disorders

Symptoms:
severe eye pain; red eyes; decreased vision; light sensitivity

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the sclera, often linked to autoimmune conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Slit-lamp examination, possible imaging.

Treatment:
Oral NSAIDs (Ibuprofen), steroids (Prednisone), or immunosuppressive therapy.

Medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., Indomethacin ), corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisone ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; more common in people with autoimmune disorders.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatable with medication; severe cases may lead to complications if untreated.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Corneal thinning, perforation, vision loss.

Uveitis

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Inflammatory or Immune-Related Disorders

Symptoms:
eye pain; red eyes; light sensitivity; blurry vision; seeing floaters

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the uvea, often linked to autoimmune or infectious causes.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Comprehensive eye exam, including slit-lamp examination and dilated fundus examination.

Treatment:
Corticosteroid eye drops like Prednisolone, oral steroids for severe cases.

Medications:
Corticosteroid eye drops (e.g., Prednisolone acetate), systemic corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisone ), and immunosuppressants (e.g., Methotrexate ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; accounts for about 10–15% of vision loss in the US.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune diseases, infections, trauma.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatable; chronic cases may require long-term management.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment.

Episcleritis

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Inflammatory or Immune-Related Disorders

Symptoms:
red eyes; mild discomfort

Root Cause:
Mild inflammation of the episclera, often self-limiting.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Eye examination distinguishing it from scleritis.

Treatment:
Artificial tears, topical NSAIDs (Ketorolac), resolves on its own in most cases.

Medications:
Topical corticosteroids (e.g., Loteprednol ), NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, especially in young and middle-aged adults; self-limiting.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Idiopathic in most cases; sometimes associated with autoimmune diseases.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Resolves spontaneously within 1–2 weeks; rarely leads to complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Mild discomfort, recurrence in chronic cases.

Ocular Toxoplasmosis

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Inflammatory or Immune-Related Disorders

Symptoms:
blurry vision; eye pain; seeing floaters; red eyes

Root Cause:
Infection of the retina by Toxoplasma gondii, typically a reactivation of a latent infection.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Retinal examination, blood tests for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies.

Treatment:
Antimicrobials (Pyrimethamine, Sulfadiazine) and corticosteroids.

Medications:
Pyrimethamine , sulfadiazine , folinic acid, and corticosteroids.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 30% of the global population; reactivation occurs in immunocompromised individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii (contaminated food, water, or cat feces).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatable with medication; vision loss may persist in severe cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Retinal scarring, recurrent inflammation, vision loss.