BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEyes - bulgingProtruding eyes; Exophthalmos; Proptosis; Bulging eyesBulging eyes is the abnormal protrusion (bulging out) of one or both eyeballs. Considerations Prominent eyes may be a family trait. But prominent eyes are not the same as bulging eyes. Bulging eyes should be checked by a health care provider.Bulging of one eye, especially in a child, can be a very serious sign. It should be checked right away.Hyperthyroidism (particularly Graves disease) is the most common medical cause of bulging eyes. With this condition, the eyes do not blink often and seem to have a staring quality.HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normally, there should be no visible white between the top of the iris (the colored part of the eye) and the upper eyelid. Seeing white in this area most often is a sign that the eye is bulging.Because eye changes most often develop slowly, family members may not notice it until the condition is fairly advanced. Photos often draw attention to the bulging when it may have gone unnoticed before. Causes Causes may include:Glaucoma GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Graves disease Hemangioma HemangiomaA hemangioma is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Histiocytosis HistiocytosisHistiocytosis is a general name for a group of disorders or "syndromes" that involve an abnormal increase in the number of specialized white blood ce...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hyperthyroidism Leukemia Neuroblastoma NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma is a very rare type of cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue. It usually occurs in infants and children.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Orbital cellulitis or periorbital cellulitis Orbital cellulitisOrbital cellulitis is an infection of the fat and muscles around the eye. It affects the eyelids, eyebrows, and cheeks. It may begin suddenly or be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Periorbital cellulitisPeriorbital cellulitis is an infection of the eyelid or skin around the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article RhabdomyosarcomaRhabdomyosarcomaRhabdomyosarcoma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the muscles that are attached to the bones. This cancer mostly affects children.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care The cause needs to be treated by a provider. Because bulging eyes can cause a person to be self-conscious, emotional support is important. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You have bulging eyes and the cause has not yet been diagnosed. Bulging eyes are accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain or fever.The provider will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam.Some questions you may be asked include: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 done. Blood testing for thyroid disease may be done.Slit-lamp examinationThe slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatments depend on the cause. Artificial tears may be given to lubricate the eye to protect its surface (cornea).Open ReferencesReferencesCioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 395.Olitsky SE, Marsh JD. Orbital abnormalities. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 651.AllVideoImagesTogGraves disease - illustration Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that involves overactivity of the thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Hallmarks of the condition are bulging eyes (exophthalmos), heat intolerance, increased energy, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea and anxiety.Graves diseaseillustrationGoiter - illustration A goiter is a swelling in the neck due to an enlarged thyroid gland. The size may range from a single small nodule to a large neck lump. The swollen thyroid can put pressure on the windpipe and esophagus which can cause a cough, wheezing, breathing difficulties or swallowing difficulties. A goiter only needs to be treated if it is causing symptoms.GoiterillustrationPeriorbital cellulitis - illustration Periorbital cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye, which may progress to orbital cellulitis with protrusion of the eyeball. Complications include meningitis.Periorbital cellulitisillustrationGraves disease - illustration Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that involves overactivity of the thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Hallmarks of the condition are bulging eyes (exophthalmos), heat intolerance, increased energy, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea and anxiety.Graves diseaseillustrationGoiter - illustration A goiter is a swelling in the neck due to an enlarged thyroid gland. The size may range from a single small nodule to a large neck lump. The swollen thyroid can put pressure on the windpipe and esophagus which can cause a cough, wheezing, breathing difficulties or swallowing difficulties. A goiter only needs to be treated if it is causing symptoms.GoiterillustrationPeriorbital cellulitis - illustration Periorbital cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye, which may progress to orbital cellulitis with protrusion of the eyeball. Complications include meningitis.Periorbital cellulitisillustrationRelated Information Hyperthyroidism(Condition)Graves disease(Condition) Review Date: 2/2/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Eyes - bulgingProtruding eyes; Exophthalmos; Proptosis; Bulging eyesBulging eyes is the abnormal protrusion (bulging out) of one or both eyeballs. Considerations Prominent eyes may be a family trait. But prominent eyes are not the same as bulging eyes. Bulging eyes should be checked by a health care provider.Bulging of one eye, especially in a child, can be a very serious sign. It should be checked right away.Hyperthyroidism (particularly Graves disease) is the most common medical cause of bulging eyes. With this condition, the eyes do not blink often and seem to have a staring quality.HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normally, there should be no visible white between the top of the iris (the colored part of the eye) and the upper eyelid. Seeing white in this area most often is a sign that the eye is bulging.Because eye changes most often develop slowly, family members may not notice it until the condition is fairly advanced. Photos often draw attention to the bulging when it may have gone unnoticed before. Causes Causes may include:Glaucoma GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Graves disease Hemangioma HemangiomaA hemangioma is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Histiocytosis HistiocytosisHistiocytosis is a general name for a group of disorders or "syndromes" that involve an abnormal increase in the number of specialized white blood ce...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hyperthyroidism Leukemia Neuroblastoma NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma is a very rare type of cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue. It usually occurs in infants and children.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Orbital cellulitis or periorbital cellulitis Orbital cellulitisOrbital cellulitis is an infection of the fat and muscles around the eye. It affects the eyelids, eyebrows, and cheeks. It may begin suddenly or be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Periorbital cellulitisPeriorbital cellulitis is an infection of the eyelid or skin around the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article RhabdomyosarcomaRhabdomyosarcomaRhabdomyosarcoma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the muscles that are attached to the bones. This cancer mostly affects children.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care The cause needs to be treated by a provider. Because bulging eyes can cause a person to be self-conscious, emotional support is important. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You have bulging eyes and the cause has not yet been diagnosed. Bulging eyes are accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain or fever.The provider will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam.Some questions you may be asked include: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 done. Blood testing for thyroid disease may be done.Slit-lamp examinationThe slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatments depend on the cause. Artificial tears may be given to lubricate the eye to protect its surface (cornea).Open ReferencesReferencesCioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 395.Olitsky SE, Marsh JD. Orbital abnormalities. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 651.