Prevent Blindness declares 5th annual Thyroid Eye Disease Awareness Week

(image credit: Adobe Stock/Seventyfour)

Prevent Blindness has declared November 18 to 24, 2024, as its 5th annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week.

TED, also known as Graves’ Eye Disease or Graves’ ophthalmopathy, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system causes inflammation and swelling and stimulates the production of muscle tissue and fat behind the eye.¹

“We are in an exciting time of offering hope and help to those with thyroid eye disease and their care partners, thanks to access to new treatment options and the development of new medications on the horizon,” said Jeff Todd, Prevent Blindness president and CEO. “Because TED often impacts vision and mental health, our goal is to provide the public, patients, and care partners with information needed to understand and mitigate the effects of TED and help patients enjoy a high quality of life for years to come.”

This year’s TED Awareness Week is supported by Amgen, Immunovant Inc,Tourmaline Bio Inc, and Viridian Therapeutics

Symptoms of TED include:

• Bulging eyes (proptosis)
• Dry, gritty and irritated eyes
• Red eyes
• Puffy eyelids
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery eye

In more advanced cases of TED, patients may also experience:

• Trouble moving eyes and fully closing eyelids
• Corneal ulcers caused by an inability to completely close eyelids
• Colors that appear to be dull or not as bright
• Blurred or loss of vision due to optic nerve compression or corneal damage

A recent study found that patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) are at an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety. These individuals may also experience diminished self-confidence, reduced social engagement, and challenges with productivity in both work and academic settings.

To support TED patients and others affected by vision loss, Prevent Blindness offers the Vision Loss and Mental Wellness resource through its Living Well With Low Vision program. This dedicated webpage provides practical tips for supporting mental health, as well as links to mental health organizations.²

To further educate patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, Prevent Blindness offers a range of free TED educational resources, including detailed fact sheets and social media graphics available in both English and Spanish. The organization also maintains a dedicated webpage on TED. Additionally, as part of its Focus on Eye Health Expert Series, Prevent Blindness provides informative episodes to further enhance understanding and support for those affected by TED.

These episodes include:

• “Thyroid Eye Disease and the TED Community,” featuring Christine Gustafson, Executive Director and CEO of the TED Community Organization and Prevent Blindness ASPECT Program graduate, discussing her TED journey, her work to establish her non-profit group, and the resources it provides.
• “Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) and Mental Wellness,” featuring neuro-ophthalmic conditions expert Prem Subramanian, MD, PhD, Clifford R. and Janice N. Merrill Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs at Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, UCHealth, discusses TED, its potential impact on mental health, and the importance of patient and healthcare provider communication to help improve health outcomes.
• “Thyroid Eye Disease (TED),” with Sara Wester, MD, FACS, professor of clinical ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and TED patient Stephen Bander.

TED was a topic of discussion at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s recent annual meeting in Chicago.

Fatemeh Rajaii, MD, PhD, an associate professor at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins, discussed emerging therapies in TED from her presentation at the meeting.

In the wake of the FDA’s approval of teprotumumab, there is growing pharmaceutical interest in developing new treatments. These therapies target three main mechanisms: anti-IGF-1 receptor agents like teprotumumab, anti-IL-6 receptor agents, and anti-FcRn receptor agents.

These approaches aim to modulate the immune system and improve outcomes for TED patients. Rajaii emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for TED, noting its prevalence as the leading cause of unilateral or bilateral proptosis in adults. TED can present with various symptoms, such as eyelid retraction or dry eye.

In a conversation with Ophthalmology Times, Rajaii noted that ophthalmologists should consider ordering appropriate labs when TED is suspected. She said she anticipates significant advancements in TED treatment options over the next 3-5 years.

References

1. Thyroid Eye Disease and the TED Community. Prevent Blindness. Published November 13, 2024. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://preventblindness.org/2024-thyroid-eye-disease-week/

2. Lee TC, Radha-Saseendrakumar B, Delavar A, Ye GY, Ting MA, Topilow NJ, Bass J, Korn BS, Kikkawa DO, Baxter SL, Liu CY. Evaluation of Depression and Anxiety in a Diverse Population With Thyroid Eye Disease Using the Nationwide NIH All of Us Database. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 May-Jun 01;39(3):281-287. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000002318. Epub 2023 Jan 24. Erratum in: Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 May-Jun 01;39(3):305. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000002384. PMID: 36727790.