What Is Thyroid Eye Disease and Is It Treatable?

What Is Thyroid Eye Disease and Is It Treatable?

What Is Thyroid Eye Disease and Is It Treatable?

What Is Thyroid Eye Disease and Is It Treatable?



The number of people in the United States (US) who have thyroid eye disease (TED) is unknown. But studies show that 2.9 out of 100,000 men and 16 out of 100,000 women suffer from the condition. Are you wondering what exactly TED is and whether it's treatable or not? Read on to learn more about this inflammatory disease.



Understanding the Mechanism



TED is a rare condition where the fatty tissues and muscles behind your eye suffer from inflammation. This pushes your eyes forward, causing them to bulge outwards. The swelling occurs when you produce autoantibodies that attach to the fibroblast cells within your eye socket. These antibodies are proteins of your immune system that abnormally react against your body's own healthy cells. Once bound, it causes your fibroblast cells to create chemical signals, and biological materials swell and congest the tissues in and around your eye socket.

 



Common Symptoms



The TED symptoms, which may range from mild to severe, vary significantly from one patient to another. For some people, the symptoms cause pain and disfigurement of their eye sockets. Eventually, this can be sight-threatening. The disease also differs greatly in how it manifests. For some patients, their TED shows little to no changes for many years. On the other hand, others' conditions slightly improve or worsen. There are cases wherein patients experience repeated episodes of exacerbation and remission. 

 


The early warning signs of TED include eye redness, irritation, and discomfort. You may also experience dry eyes and pain when you move your eyes. It's also common to notice eyelid retraction. It's when the position of your upper eyelid is too high and/or your lower eyelid is too low, thus exposing your eye. The most obvious symptom of TED is proptosis, the bulging of the eyes outward. This protrusion out of the eye socket can make you seem like you're constantly staring. 

 


Several other signs and symptoms may also occur if you have TED. These include blurred vision, double vision, and misalignment of the eyes. Many patients also experience watery eyes, chronic bloody eyes, inflammation on the white part of the eye, and light sensitivity. 

 



Treatment Options

 



TED is treatable. If you've been diagnosed with this condition, your treatment will likely involve the coordinated efforts of a team of medical specialists. These include general internists, ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, and other healthcare providers. Getting psychosocial support is also vital in managing the symptoms. 

 


Your doctor may recommend medications like intravenous infusions. In January 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug for treating adults with TED. This medication is known as Tepezza (Teprotumumab-trbw). It's an antibody that eases the pressure on your optic nerve. This, in turn, relieves swelling and reduces the bulging of the eyes. For people who developed TED due to Graves' disease, your doctor may prescribe antithyroid drugs. Other treatments include synthetic hormones, selenium supplements, botulinum toxin A injections, and surgeries. 

 




Do you want a less invasive treatment and a better outcome for your condition? For more on thyroid eye disease, visit Quality Eye Care today in Jacksonville or Gainesville, FL. Call (904) 601-1300 to schedule a consultation.

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