Bulging eyes

With bulging eyes, one or both eyes project further forwards. Thyroid eye disease is a common cause in adults, but a suddenly painful, red, bulging eye may also result from bleeding or infection in the eye socket. Loss of vision, colour vision or eye movement requires immediate ophthalmic assessment.

• One or both eyes project further forwards, more of the white of the eye is visible or the eyelids do not close completely.
• A dry, burning or gritty feeling, watering, redness and light sensitivity due to corneal exposure.
• Only use lubricating eye products and any night-time protection that a doctor or pharmacist considers suitable.
• Wear sunglasses for light sensitivity and raise the head of the bed if this improves comfort with swelling.
• Have any new or increasing eye bulging assessed promptly, even if there is no pain or vision loss yet.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.
• Sudden loss of vision, a rapidly bulging, hard, painful eye or an unresponsive pupil may indicate acute optic nerve compression and cannot wait.