Thyroid eye disease, also known as TED, is an autoimmune disease that is estimated to affect 16 in every 100,000 women in the general population and 2.9 in every 100,000 men in the general population, according to the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD). This condition is often associated with Graves’ disease (when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone also known as hyperthyroidism), with approximately 1 in 3 people developing eye symptoms from Graves’ disease. However, TED can also be associated with normal thyroid levels or hypothyroidism (also known as Hashimoto’s Disease). In this article, we will review the common symptoms associated with thyroid eye disease and the potential treatments/cures that exist for this condition.
If you or someone you know are interested in learning how to advance TED research, please visit our research registry here.
What are the symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, thyroid eye disease symptoms or Graves’ disease eye symptoms can occur in one or both eyes, but common symptoms reported by patients include:
- Dry Eyes
- Gritty Eyes (or gritty feeling in the eyes)
- Bulging Eyes (known as proptosis)
- Double vision
- Pain with moving your eyes or with eye movements
- Not able to close your eyes completely
TED Impact on Patient Quality of Life
These thyroid eye disease symptoms can severely impact a patient’s quality of life and day-to-day activities. A patient that spoke with Leapcure’s Patient Success Coordinator highlighted that “TED makes everything in life miserable, it makes it impossible to really live my life and be happy with constant discomfort and a distorted face.” It is important that these sentiments are communicated and understood to better support TED patients as they navigate potential treatments and research.
Potential Treatments/Cures for Thyroid Eye Disease
While there is no single cure for treating thyroid eye disease, there are several different options available to patients.
One option is for patients to alleviate symptoms associated with TED at home through methods that do not require medication or prescriptions. This can include eye drops to relieve dryness and irritation or wearing sunglasses, eyeglasses with prisms or a patch to help reduce double vision and eye strain. Lastly, behavior changes such as raising the level of one’s head while one sleeps may be helpful in addressing the symptoms associated with thyroid eye disease.
Medications & Other Options to Treat TED
Another option is to work with a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist, to explore if there are medications that may work for patients. Common examples of medications include steroids, Selenium, and Teprotumumab. Selenium is taken orally while steroids and Teprotumumab are given intravenously.
For severe cases of thyroid eye disease, eye surgery may also be an option. These surgeries may include orbital decompression surgery, eye muscle or Strabismus surgery, and eyelid surgery.
It is important that awareness and understanding of TED symptoms and potential treatments/cures continue to be shared, especially in answering patient questions around the condition and recognizing the severe impacts this condition has on quality of life. Leapcure seeks to share insights from our conversations with patients and advocacy to help promote thyroid eye disease awareness while providing tools to support patients. If you would like to learn more about thyroid eye disease and research options for TED, please visit our website at this link.
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