This Week in Ophthalmology: Week of November 11, 2024

Transcript edited for clarity

David Hutton: Hello, I am David Hutton of Ophthalmology Times, and welcome to another episode of This Week in Ophthalmology, a program that looks at some of the current headlines and hot topics from Ophthalmology Times.

This week, we will focus on thyroid eye disease.

Prevent Blindness has designated November 18 to 24, 2024, as the 5th annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week. The week aims to raise awareness of TED's symptoms, impact on vision and mental health, and new treatment options. Educational resources and expert-led episodes will support patients and healthcare professionals.

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

At the meeting, I had a conversation with Dr Fatemeh Rajaii, an associate professor at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins, who discussed emerging therapies in TED from her presentation at the meeting.Let’s check out that conversation.

Fatemeh Rajai, MD: My name is Fatemeh Rajaii. I'm an associate professor of ophthalmology and the Odd Fellows Rising Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and I want to discuss the emerging therapies in thyroid eye disease.

Since the FDA approval of teprotumumab, there's been a lot of pharmaceutical interest in thyroid eye disease and developing new therapies. Currently, they’re broken down into 3 basic mechanisms. One is anti-IGF-1 receptor agents such as teprotumumab, with several others in development. Another is anti–IL-6 receptor agents, such as tocilizumab and others in development, like satralizumab and TOR-006; and then there are anti-FcRn receptor agents, which function by trying to reprogram the immune system by decreasing immunoglobulin half-life. Those agents include batoclimab and efgartigimod.

So, I think it's a really exciting time to be treating people with thyroid eye disease. I believe in the next 3 to 5 years, we’re going to have a lot more in our armamentarium to take care of these patients.

David Hutton: At the top of this episode, I noted that Prevent Blindness has declared November 18 to 24, 2024, as its 5th annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week.

As we know symptoms of TED include:

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

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 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.