{"id":1923,"date":"2026-10-20T08:53:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/eye-health\/conditions\/bulging-eyes-causes\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:58:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:58:35","slug":"bulging-eyes-causes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/bulging-eyes-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"Exophthalmos (Bulging Eyes): Causes, Warning Signs and What to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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  1. Home<\/a><\/li>
  2. Knowledge centre<\/a><\/li>
  3. Eye conditions & symptoms A\u2013Z<\/a><\/li>
  4. Exophthalmos (Bulging Eyes): Causes, Warning Signs and What to Do<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t

    Exophthalmos (Bulging Eyes): Causes, Warning Signs and What to Do<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Exophthalmos, or bulging eyes, means one or both eyes sit further forward than normal. The most common cause is thyroid eye disease, an autoimmune condition linked to Graves’ disease. Others include orbital infection (an emergency), inflammation, tumours, abnormal blood vessels and injury. Doctors treat the cause. Sudden bulging with pain, double vision or falling sight needs same-day emergency care.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

    What is exophthalmos, and what does “bulging eyes” mean?<\/h2><\/div>

    Exophthalmos is the medical word for an eye that sits too far forward in its socket. Proptosis means the same thing, and the everyday phrase is “bulging eyes” or “protruding eyes”. The eye is pushed forward by something happening behind it, inside the bony socket called the orbit: swelling, extra tissue, a growth, bleeding or an abnormal blood vessel. Our Eye glossary A\u2013Z<\/a> explains other terms you may meet in a report.<\/p>\n

    Doctors measure how far forward the eyes sit with an instrument called an exophthalmometer; the Hertel type is the one most widely used. A review of the causes of proptosis describes abnormal protrusion as a difference of 2 mm or more between the two eyes. A single “normal” number is hard to give, because readings differ between people and populations. One study of 2,010 healthy adults and children in northeast China found a mean reading of about 15 mm, which is higher than a figure in a Chinese medical textbook and lower than values reported for some other ethnic groups. That is why your doctor compares one eye with the other, and your readings over time, rather than checking one number against a chart.<\/p>\n

    This page lists the main causes of exophthalmos, explains how to tell a true bulging eye from an eye that only looks prominent, and shows which warning signs mean you should not wait. It is general information, not a diagnosis.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

    Prominent eyes or bulging eyes: what is the difference?<\/h2><\/div>

    Some eyes look prominent without being pushed forward at all. Doctors call this false or “pseudo” proptosis. The proptosis review lists these reasons:<\/p>\n