AVAILABLE TREATMENTS
• Tepezza
• Solu Medrol
TREATMENT DURATION
Average time is 60 to 180 minutes
FREQUENCY OF TREATMENT
Average frequency is 1x every 3 weeks
HOW TO BOOK A TREATMENT
Condition and Treatment Overview
Thyroid Eye Disease
Patients with thyroid disease already must manage symptoms and treatments. So, when someone already struggling with thyroid disease develops thyroid eye disease, the feeling can be overwhelming. What treatments are available? How can symptoms like red eyes, bulging eyes, vision problems, and dryness be treated? You’re not alone in your search for answers.
AVAILABLE TREATMENTS
• Tepezza
• Solu Medrol
TREATMENT DURATION
Average time is 60 to 180 minutes
FREQUENCY OF TREATMENT
Average frequency is 1x every 3 weeks
HOW TO BOOK A TREATMENT
What Is Thyroid Eye Disease?
Thyroid eye disease (TED), also known as Graves’ eye disease, occurs when the eyelids, eye muscles, and fatty tissues around the eye become inflamed. This inflammation is due to an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks itself. Normally, our immune systems keep us healthy by fighting off infection (such as bacteria or viruses) or protecting us from abnormal cells (such as cancer). But in autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly identifies certain proteins, muscles, or tissues as threats.
In the case of thyroid eye disease, this results in the eyes becoming swollen and red, causing symptoms like double vision and even bulging eyes. Some of the most severe cases prevent the eyes from fully closing during sleep or while blinking, causing additional irritation. As the disease progresses, inflammation may compress the optic nerves connecting the eyes to the brain, resulting in blindness.
Contributing factors to thyroid eye disease include:
- Genetics (family history)
- Age (most patients are middle-aged or older)
- Smoking
- Having infections
- Taking certain medications or receiving certain treatments (such as radioactive iodine therapy)
- Stress
While this condition is rare, it causes discomfort and pain for those suffering from it. The good news is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first drug treatment for thyroid eye disease – giving hope to patients.
