What is Graves’ Disease?
In Graves’ disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid, causing it to become overactive and produce more thyroid hormone than the body needs.1,2,3 This is called hyperthyroidism.1,3
People with Graves’ disease can experience many different symptoms, including feeling tired and irritable, having trouble sleeping, a fast heartbeat, frequent bowel movements, weight loss and more.3
Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) may occur in up to 40% of people with Graves’ disease, but it’s important to remember that TED and Graves’ disease are unique diseases with different symptoms, requiring separate treatment.4,5
Key Things to Know About Graves’ disease and TED
TED can present before, alongside or after Graves' disease6 
All patients with Graves' disease should be screened for TED 
If you are living with Graves' disease, observe your eyes and record any changes Graves’ Disease Symptoms
Graves' disease affects the thyroid gland and can lead to a variety of symptoms.3 Some of the most common include:3
Feelingtired
Fast or irregularheartbeat
Irritability oranxiety
Frequent bowelmovements
Troublesleeping
Weightloss
Sensitivity totemperature
If you have Graves’ disease, you may also notice changes to your eyes.3 These changes to your eyes may be the symptoms of a separate condition called Thyroid Eye Disease (TED).1 Symptoms of TED may include:1
Dry, gritty eyes 
Watery, teary eyes 
Eye pain and eye pressure 
Blurry vision 
Bulging eyes 
Swollen, puffy eyelids 
Colour vision loss 
Sensitivity to light 
Double vision 
Eyelids not closing properly 
Eyes that point in different directions 
Vision loss If you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, change in your vision or are concerned, you should seek immediate medical advice from your doctor or care team
The Causes of Graves’ Disease
Doctors are still not entirely sure why some people develop Graves’ disease and others don’t. But they do know that genetics and environmental factors both play a role.3
The following factors may increase your risk of developing Graves' disease: 8,10
Sex 
Age 30-50 
Family history 
Genetics 
Certain medications 
Other autoimmune conditions -
References
- British Thyroid Foundation. Thyroid Eye Disease leaflet. https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-eye-disease-leaflet. Accessed: April 1, 2025.
- Jain D, Mor S, Aggarwal H, et al. Thyroid Association Ophthalmopathy in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: a Case Report. Maedica (Bucur). 2017 Jan;12(1):65-67
- NIDDK. Graves’ Disease. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/graves-disease. Accessed: April 1, 2025.
- Ueland, HO, Ueland GÅ, Løvås K, et al. Novel inflammatory biomarkers in thyroid eye disease. Infl biomarkers in thyroid eye disease. 2022; 187(2):293-300
- Smith TJ, Hegedüs L. Graves’ disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(16):1552-1665
- Wang Y, Patel A, Douglas RS. Thyroid Eye Disease: how a novel therapy may change the treatment paradigm. Ther Clin Risk Manag.2019;15:1305-1318
- Burch HB, Perros P, Bednarczuk T, et al. Management of Thyroid Eye Disease: a consensus statement by the American Thyroid Association and the European Thyroid Association. Thyroid. 2022;32(12):1-32
- Osaki TH, Monteiro LG, Osaki MH. Management of eyelid retraction related to thyroid eye disease. Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2022 Feb 14;12(1):12-21
- Mathew P, Kaur J, Rawla P. Hyperthyroidism. [Updated 2023 Mar 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537053/ Accessed: April 1, 2025.
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