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Eyes - bulging

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Protruding eyes; Exophthalmos; Proptosis; Bulging eyes

Home Care:

The underlying cause of this symptom needs to be treated by a health care provider. Because bulging eyes can cause a person to be self-conscious, emotional support is important.

Call your health care provider if:

• You have bulging eyes and the cause has not yet been diagnosed.
• Bulging eyes are accompanied by other symptoms.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions may include the following:

• Are both eyes bulging?
• When did you first notice bulging eyes?
• Is it getting worse?
• What other symptoms do you have?

A slit-lamp examination may be ordered. Blood testing for thyroid disease may be performed.

Artificial tears may be given to lubricate the eye. Other treatments will depend on the cause.

• Review Date: 1/18/2007
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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