Even if you’re using a treatment for thyroid eye disease (TED), your symptoms may still flare up in certain situations — like, for example, if you’re in a smoky bar or under a lot of stress.
That’s because your lifestyle habits play a bigger role in managing your condition than you might think. Everything from the food you eat to how you spend your free time can play a role in triggering symptoms such as pain, discomfort (a feeling of grittiness in the eyes), sensitivity to light, double vision, and bulging of the eyes (proptosis).
Here are some of the most common things that can cause TED to worsen — by avoiding them, you can find more relief.
1. Smoking Cigarettes
If you have TED, smoking can make the condition worse, eventually even leading to vision loss. In fact, research shows that, among people with TED, those who smoke are more likely to need eye surgery than people who used to smoke or never smoked.
If you currently smoke, talk to your doctor about creating a smoking cessation plan. You can also try calling a quitline such as 800-QUIT-NOW to talk to a quit coach, who can help you find ways to stop smoking.
2. Eating Processed, Sugary Foods
Foods and drinks such as candy, pastries, and soda can contribute to inflammation in your body — and inflammation can then worsen the symptoms of TED.
Instead, opt for anti-inflammatory foods — foods that may help lower inflammation levels in the body — such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, and fatty fish like salmon and tuna.
3. Spending Too Long in Front of a Screen
It’s hard to avoid smartphones, computers, and other personal electronic devices altogether, but it’s a good idea to limit your use as much as possible. Research shows that staring at a screen reduces the number of times you blink, which, for people with TED, can worsen the symptoms of dry eye and lead to eye strain.
To prevent eye strain, try to rest your eyes every two hours for 15 minutes.
And to encourage yourself to blink more, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes you’re looking at a screen, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.
4. Eating Foods High in Saturated and Trans Fats
Foods high in saturated fats — such as bacon, beef, and hot dogs — can also contribute to inflammation, worsening TED symptoms. The same can be said for foods loaded with trans fats, like fried foods.
5. Eating Foods High in Iodine
If you have TED, it’s important to steer clear of foods that are high in iodine. That’s because iodine can trigger hyperthyroidism in people who have an existing thyroid condition like TED.
High-iodine foods include seaweed and sea vegetables like kelp; seafood (especially haddock and cod); most table salt; bread; and dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. Talk to your doctor about how much iodine is safe to include in your diet.
6. Being Under a Lot of Stress
Stress can trigger inflammation on a cellular level, worsening inflammation in the eyes among people who have TED. While avoiding stress altogether isn’t realistic, there are some habits that can help you stay calmer, such as getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, exercising regularly, eating a mostly plant-based diet, meditating, and staying connected to loved ones.
7. Abandoning Your Treatment Plan
Not taking your “thyroid medications can exacerbate TED symptoms,” says Robert Kinast, MD, vice-chair of ophthalmology at Legacy Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon. An endocrinologist can help you manage thyroid disease; if you have trouble sticking to your treatment plan, ask about ways to make your routine easier, like setting reminders on your phone to take medication regularly.
To treat TED, Glenn Ostriker, MD, director of ophthalmology at Stamford Health in Stamford, Connecticut, recommends seeing an ophthalmologist, who can prescribe eye drops and medications, and in some cases, perform surgery.
By following the steps above, you’ll not only better manage the symptoms of TED, but improve your overall health as well.
The Takeaway
There is no cure for TED, but treatments can help manage symptoms and to slow progression.
TED can be managed in a variety of ways, including with lifestyle changes, eye drops, medications, and sometimes surgery.
Avoiding habits that can worsen TED, such as smoking or eating highly processed foods, can also keep TED symptoms in check and slow the progression of the disease.
