This photo was taken on August 1, 2007. Six months after going off of Methimazole, and nearly two years after being diagnosed with Graves Disease. It shows how my eyes have regained their symetry in the upper eyelid retraction. This is due to the spontaneous resolution of the proptosis (eye protrusion) I experienced (see other photo). Very hard to tell the difference.
This photo was taken August 30, 2007. It shows a side view of my right eye. It was my right eye that I experienced worse proptosis in. At this stage, my eye has receded to its normal position pre-Graves disease. Eye measurement as taken by my endocrinologist with a Hertel Exophthalmometer at 20mm.
A photo taken in mid summer of 2005, a few months prior to my diagnosis. As I look back now, this is about the time when I noticed my eyelids began to go up and down unevenly. (Summer 2005)
This device is used to measure how far your eyes protrude. It's important for your doctor to take careful measurements during each appointment to track both the progression of eye proptosis as well as any resolution, or receding, that occurs. I encourage you to keep track of this important element of your medical records over time so you have a record of measurements as well.
It requires ZERO squinting or squeezing to keep my left eyelid shut. None whatsoever. For most people this is simply not possible. I have to squint to hold my right eyelid shut. Not so with the left. The level of upper eyelid retration in my right eye is so strong that my left lid just sits there with no effort. In this photo my problematic right eyelid, which today appears overly "open" or "retracted" in photos, actually appears quite normal here. This photo was taken 18 months after my hyperthyroid diagnosis. The lid retraction remains. (May 2007)
My eyes, 18 months after Graves Disease diagnosis, showing upper eyelid retraction in right eye. (May 2007)
My eyes at this point had also moved outward (proptosis) to accommodate the swelling behind the eyes in and around the eye muscle area. The protrusion in this photo is worse in my right eye, so too is the eyelid retraction.
