Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Research & Resources Library

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the eyes and the surrounding tissues. It is commonly associated with Graves’ disease, but can occur in individuals with other thyroid disorders as well. TED can cause eye bulging, double vision, and eye pain, among other symptoms.

The research and resources below can provide valuable information and support for individuals with TED and their loved ones. It is important to work closely with a healthcare provider to manage and treat TED. Please review our TED Community disclaimer.

ted survey

TED Study Opportunity

Share Your Experiences With Thyroid Eye Disease

Pinpoint Patient Recruiting, a market research recruitment company, is searching for people who have been diagnosed with Thyroid Eye Disease (also known as Graves Ophthalmopathy, Graves’ Eye Disease, or Graves Orbitopathy) to participate in a 30-minute online survey about their experience. Those who qualify and participate in the study will receive $65 as a thank you. All information and responses will remain confidential.

** Please be sure to mention TED Community when asked how you heard about this opportunity.

Here are the instructions:
To see if you qualify for the study or to get more information (takes 3 minutes):

Visit https://www.pinpointpatientrecruiting.com/ted-survey

Or contact Julie Knell at julie@pinpointpatientrecruiting.com.

Featured Article

MEDICAL NEWS TODAY: Everything you need to know about exophthalmos.

Exophthalmos describes a condition where the eyeball protrudes from the eye socket, making it appear to bulge. It can affect one or both eyes and may occur due to problems with the thyroid gland.

Depending on how severe it is, exophthalmos can cause eye problems such as corneal dryness and conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation of the membrane lining the eye. In the long-term, symptoms tend to improve, but this can take years. There is a possibility that the eyes may continue to bulge if treatment is not received.

Read the full article here.

April 2023. The Most Urgent Voice in Eye Research – The Patient’s
by Jeff Todd, JD, MS, & Kira N. Baldonado, MPH @ Prevent Blindness.

Featured Article

OPHTHALMOLOGY TIMES: How our Understanding of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Has Evolved

Our understanding of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) has changed considerably over the last few years, driven primarily by new treatment options and research. This evolved understanding has prompted specialists in the field to reconsider the course of the disease and how to approach treatment.

Read the full article here.

Rare Revolution Article Layla Thyroid Eye Disease Patient
Rare Revolution Article Frank Thyroid Eye Disease Care Partner
Rare Revolution Article Thyroid Eye Disease Patient Advocacy Organizations

Here are a short list of resources related to thyroid eye disease (TED):

Find a TED Specialist Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a rare eye condition. And not all eye doctors (also known as ophthalmologists) have experience treating it. Make sure you’re seeing one that does. This TED Specialist page is maintained by Horizon Therapeutics.

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is a professional association dedicated to promoting thyroid health and research. They have a section on their website dedicated to TED that includes information on diagnosis, treatment, and management of the disease.

Prevent Blindness offers well-rounded information about Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) as well as a TED Art Therapy program.

The Assistance Fund is an independent charitable patient assistance organization that provides support for adults and children with rare and chronic diseases. The organization may help provide families with financial and travel assistance. (Visit the TED page.)

Kellogg Eye Center provides a comprehensive overview of thyroid eye disease (TED) and, in a second article, discusses what to expect after you have received a diagnosis.

The National Library of Medicine offers articles and research about Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). This U.S. government website, noted as The National Center for Biotechnology Information, advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

PubMed is a database of medical research articles maintained by the National Library of Medicine. A search for “thyroid eye disease” will yield a wealth of research articles on the topic.

ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of clinical trials maintained by the National Institutes of Health. A search for “thyroid eye disease” will yield a list of ongoing and completed clinical trials related to the disease.

The Thyroid Eye Disease Charitable Trust is a UK-based organization that provides support and resources for individuals with TED. They offer information on the disease, treatment options, and patient stories.

Let’s Face It Together, is a nonprofit that provides renewed hope to those dealing with the physical and emotional challenges caused by facial alterations resulting from cancer, autoimmune disease, spousal abuse, accidents and other tragedies. LFIT fills the void between health insurance coverage and patient care.

mask showing thyroid eye disease TED with bulging eye.

THE EYES OF MY MARCH
“One eye shows what TED was like for me.
The eye with the butterfly wing is my experience after treatment.”
~ a TED ART project

Recent Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Research and Clinical Trials worth noting:

Tourmaline TED clinical study tile
Immunovant TED Clinical Trials for thyroid eye disease solutions
thrive clinical study for thyroid eye disease

ACELYRIN logo

ACELYRIN is currently recruiting for a clinical study designed to evaluate lonigutamab in subjects with TED. Use this link to learn more.


Tourmaline Bio is currently enrolling in the spiriTED Study
– A Phase 2b clinical study investigating study drug TOUR-006 in patients with TED. Please visit – https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06088979 or https://lpcur.com/TEDCommunityOrganization for more information.

Lassen Therapeutics is currently recruiting for 2 clinical trials evaluating a novel treatment for people with TED.

LASN01-CL-2201
Phase 2 clinical trial exploring LASN01 as a potential treatment for people with active TED
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06226545?term=lasn01&rank=1

LASN01-CL-1101
Phase 1 clinical trial further exploring LASN01 in people with active TED or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05331300?term=lasn01&rank=2

viridian therapeutics

Viridian Therapeutics / THRIVE – We continue to enroll participants in this study in the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and United Kingdom. A full list of sites can be found on clinicaltrials.gov – https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05176639
• For USA audiences, we also have a THRIVE specific website to help provide the community with information on this study – https://ted-study.com/

Viridian Therapeutics / THRIVE 2 – We continue to enroll participants in this study and plan to add additional sites across the USA and elsewhere. As these additional sites open, clinicaltrials.gov will be updated accordingly – https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06021054

immunovant solutions for thyroid eye disease

Immunovant is presently recruiting for a TED clinical research study. Please use this link to learn more.

See “Understanding Thyroid Eye Disease” contributed by Immunovant.

Immunovant announced two new development programs for the drug batoclimab, including one for Graves’ disease.

sling therapeutics

Sling Therapeutics is now recruiting participants for a Phase 2b study to evaluate a new oral treatment for TED.

Thyroid Eye Disease / TED Studies

January 2024, A Prospective Study Examining Audiometry Outcomes Following Teprotumumab Treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease
Study Conclusion: Long-term hearing loss in TED patients with normal baseline hearing is rare after treatment with teprotumumab(incidence of 3%). In those who already had hearing dys-function before therapy, worsening was seen in 20% (4 of 20)patients. Patients with baseline hearing dysfunction are at significantly greater risk of hearing loss and would benefit from the institution of a screening program.

November 2023, For Many Patients with Graves’ Disease, It Is a Long Battle
Study Conclusion: In this longitudinal cohort study spanning 20 years, the long-term outcome of GD is quite variable, but most patients experienced a chronic or remitting–relapsing course and required either definitive treatment or long-term ATD therapy. There is a nonnegligible accumulation of new TED cases, especially after radioactive iodine treatment. There is a significant long-term symptom burden, especially in those who develop hypothyroidism, regardless of whether the hypothyroidism is related to treatment of the hyperthyroidism or whether it develops spontaneously.

Proptosis Regression After Teprotumumab Treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.

TEPEZZA® (teprotumumab) Approved in Brazil for the Treatment of Active Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). The first international approval outside of the U.S.

Scientific Presentations from Viridian Therapeutics regarding clinical trails related to thyroid eye disease treatments.

FDA expands teprotumumab indication to include any thyroid eye disease duration, activity.

Management of Thyroid Eye Disease: A Consensus Statement by the American Thyroid Association and the European Thyroid Association

Evaluation of Depression and Anxiety in a Diverse Population With Thyroid Eye Disease Using the Nationwide NIH All of Us Database

Research presented  at the American Society of Ophthalmic, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery annual meeting noted a decrease in eye muscle size for patients with TED who underwent treatment with TEPEZZA (TM), resulting in better eye movement and less double vision.

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April 2023. The Most Urgent Voice in Eye Research – The Patient’s
by Jeff Todd, JD, MS, & Kira N. Baldonado, MPH @ Prevent Blindness.

TED Clinical Trials / Studies for thyroid eye disease

Click this poster to open print / PDF version.

Check out the library of TED articles and videos published by Healthy Women 

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Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) articles published by Everyday Health

7 Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves’ Ophthalmopathy)

The symptoms of thyroid eye disease can be similar to those of other eye conditions.

The Healthcare Professionals That Should Be on Your Thyroid Eye Disease Care Team

These doctors and experts can help treat the symptoms of thyroid eye disease (Graves’ ophthalmopathy).

What to Know About Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves’ Ophthalmopathy)

Inflammation in the eye tissues can trigger problems such as vision loss and proptosis (eye bulging).

7 Ways to Ease the Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease

Use these tips to help alleviate the symptoms of thyroid eye disease naturally.

4 Treatments for Thyroid Eye Disease

Thyroid eye disease can be a debilitating condition. Here are four ways to help alleviate the symptoms.

Why Gail Devers Is on a Mission to Educate About Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Eye Disease

This former Olympic athlete doesn’t want anyone to go undiagnosed for as long as she did.

Endocrine Society Article: The Eyes Have It – The Effects of Thyroid Eye Disease BY Derek Bagley

Up to half of patients with Graves’ disease develop thyroid eye disease (TED), a disease separate from Graves’ that is devastating to patients and often challenging to diagnose and treat.

Endocrine Today Article: Major adverse CV event risk lower after surgery, radioactive iodine for hyperthyroidism

Key takeaways:
Of adults with hyperthyroidism, 93.9% were treated with antithyroid drugs.
Adults who underwent surgery or radioactive iodine therapy had a lower risk for a major adverse CV event.

thyroid eye disease TED flower by jacque

Lines – Captivating Our Connections ~ Artist Jacque ~ a TED ART project.

TED ART showing double vision
Thyroid Eye Disease can cause double vision as seen in this TED ART project.

TED Support & Services

Bromberg Translation and Telephonic Interpreting Services
No-cost program offering translation and telephonic interpretation services for Spanish-speaking individuals and families impacted by specific health conditions

Center for Chronic Illness
Monthly web-based peer support group for those living with Thyroid Eye Disease, professionally facilitated by a licensed social worker

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Rare Disease CareLine
Provides support and assistance to patients with chronic, debilitating diseases to help access care and treatment recommended by their doctor. Case managers will help navigate roadblocks to access to care and affordability to Americans with chronic, rare and ultra-rare illnesses.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Emergency Relief Program provides financial assistance that can be used to pay for unexpected or emergency non-medical expenses such as utility expenses,  cellular or internet service, emergency repairs to car, home or major appliance, and rent or mortgage payment assistance. For information about the emergency relief program, send an email to NORD at ThyroidEyeDisease@RareDiseases.org. *costs for medications are not eligible for NORD program

Patient Advocate Foundation
Provides support and assistance to patients with chronic, debilitating diseases to help access care and treatment recommended by their doctor. Case managers will help navigate roadblocks to access to  care and affordability to Americans with chronic, life-threatening and debilitating illnesses.

The Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides support and resources for individuals with Graves’ disease and other thyroid disorders, including TED. They offer a variety of resources, including educational materials and a patient forum.

oneGRAVESvoice
A resource made possible through an unrestricted grant to the Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Foundation to connect, educate and empower the Graves’ disease and TED communities.

Find an ASOPRS surgeon
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, established in 1969, is the world’s largest organization of surgeons dedicated exclusively to the health and beauty of the eyes and face. All members are board-certified medical doctors who have trained 4 years as interns and residents in ophthalmology followed by fellowship training in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures of the eyelids, eye sockets, tear ducts and face. Most ASOPRS surgeons have trained 6 years or more and before becoming members, all candidates must submit scientific research and pass rigorous oral and written examinations.

Aimed Alliance
The mission of Aimed Alliance is to protect and enhance the rights of health care consumers and providers.  The vision of Aimed Alliance is a society in which consumers, in consultation with their health care providers and loved ones, can make informed and individually appropriate decisions about their health care, and those decisions are not overridden by third parties.

All About Vision
All About Vision provides a range of helpful information for caregivers, including tools on how to help someone who is visually impaired.

American Academy of Ophthalmology – Thyroid Eye Disease
A medical document provided by the members of the AAO.

American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
The mission of ASOPRS is to advance education, research, and the quality of clinical practice in the fields of aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery specializing in the face, orbits, eyelids and lacrimal system.

Office on Women’s Health
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Provide national leadership and coordination to improve the health of women and girls through policy, education and innovative programs.

Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a national 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses.

ThyroidEyeDisease.net
ThyroidEyeDisease.net is a for profit Health Union community. Health Union reaches millions of people through condition-specific online health communities and a Social Health Network of patient leaders across virtually all health conditions.

Helpful Information Specific to TED

National Eye Institute
https://www.nei.nih.gov/

For more than 50 years, the National Eye Institute (NEI) has been on the front lines of vision research — and we continue to support cutting-edge research projects that investigate new ways to prevent, treat, or even reverse vision loss. We also work hard to help the public learn about vision problems and how to keep their eyes healthy.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
https://www.frontiersin.org/

Frontiers in Endocrinology publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research from basic molecular and cellular communication to clinical care, advancing our understanding of the endocrine system, and leading to novel therapies for some of the most prevalent health issue.

Ophthalmology 360® 
https://ophthalmology360.com/

Ophthalmology360 is an informative, educational, dynamic online community space for ophthalmologists, optometrists, healthcare providers, patients, and patient advocates with an interest in eyecare. Our mission is to help improve patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and patient quality of care for medically necessary and elective eyecare.

Links to Explore

In the section below, you can view a wealth of research papers and articles related to TED. While we do not endorse or recommend any particular study or article, we have found this information useful in our quest to better understand TED and its possible solutions. The date range for these research papers and articles is 2019 – 2023.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor and Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy

Terry J Smith, Joseph A M J L Janssen

Future Projections in Thyroid Eye Disease

Giuseppe Barbesino, Mario Salvi, Suzanne K Freitag

Cytokines as Targets of Novel Therapies for Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Poupak Fallahi, Silvia Martina Ferrari, Giusy Elia, Francesca Ragusa, Sabrina Rosaria Paparo, Armando Patrizio, Stefania Camastra, Mario Miccoli, Gabriella Cavallini, Salvatore Benvenga, Alessandro Antonelli

Overview of Graves Ophthalmopathy Literature From 1999 to 2019: Bibliometric Analysis

Jiamin Cao, Nuo Wang, Shiying Hou, Xin Qi, Yu Chen, Wei Xiong

Thyroid Eye Disease: How A Novel Therapy May Change The Treatment Paradigm

Yao Wang, Amy Patel, Raymond S Douglas

A survey of current practices by the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) and recommendations for delivering a sustainable multidisciplinary approach to thyroid eye disease in the United Kingdom

Vickie Lee, Parizad Avari, Ben Williams, Petros Perros, Colin Dayan, on behalf of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) and TEAMeD

Optic Neuropathy and Diplopia from Thyroid Eye Disease: Update on Pathophysiology and Treatment

Brooke T. Johnson, Evan Jameyfield, Vinay K. Aakalu

Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Thyroid Eye Disease in the United States

Kimberly P. Cockerham, Lissa Padnick-Silver, Noel Stuertz, Megan Francis-Sedlak, Robert J. Holt

The Role of Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Potential of Antioxidants in Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Tzu-Yu Hou, Shi-Bei Wu, Hui-Chuan Kau, Chieh-Chih Tsai

Teprotumumab and the Evolving Therapeutic Landscape in Thyroid Eye Disease

Andrea Lora Kossler, Raymond Douglas, Chrysoula Dosiou

Immunological Aspects of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Dominika Łacheta, Piotr Miśkiewicz, Alicja Głuszko, Grażyna Nowicka, Maria Struga, Ireneusz Kantor, Krzysztof B. Poślednik, Shafaq Mirza, Mirosław J. Szczepański

Mayo Clinic – Thyroid Eye Disease Research Clinic

Ongoing studies and projects in the Thyroid Eye Research Program at Mayo Clinic are aimed at better understanding the prevalence and mechanisms of thyroid eye disease (Graves’ disease), assessing patients’ treatment needs, and testing new treatments in clinical trials.

Update on thyroid eye disease: Regional variations in prevalence, diagnosis, and management

Caroline Y Yu, Rebecca L Ford, Sara T Wester, Erin M Shriver

A novel method for quantifying the biomechanical parameters of orbital soft tissue using a corneal dynamic scheimpflug analyser: a retrospective study

Ho Sik Hwang, Eun Chul Kim, Man Soo Kim, Suk-Woo Yang

Comparative assessment of Graves’ disease and main extrathyroidal manifestation, Graves’ ophthalmopathy, by non-targeted metabolite profiling of blood and orbital tissue

Dong Yoon Ji, Se Hee Park, Soo Jin Park, Kyoung Heon Kim, Cheol Ryong Ku, Dong Yeob Shin, Jin Sook Yoon, Do Yup Lee, Eun Jig Lee

Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Thyroid Eye Disease

Anu Sharma, Marius N Stan, Dan B Rootman

Debate: Will biological agents supplant systemic glucocorticoids as the first-line treatment for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy?

Terry J. Smith, Luigi Bartalena

Updates on the understanding and management of thyroid eye disease

Clara J. Men, Andrea L. Kossler, Sara T. Wester

Investigation of Meibomian Gland Function and Dry Eye Disease in Patients with Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Sachiko Inoue, Motoko Kawashima, Reiko Arita, Ai Kozaki, Kazuo Tsubota

Evidence That Baseline Levels of Low-Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol Affect the Clinical Response of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy to Parenteral Corticosteroids

Adriano Naselli, Diletta Moretti, Concetto Regalbuto, Maria Luisa Arpi, Fabrizio Lo Giudice, Francesco Frasca, Antonino Belfiore, Rosario Le Moli

Low- vs. high-dose radiotherapy in Graves’ ophthalmopathy: a retrospective comparison of long-term results

Thomas Weissmann, Sebastian Lettmaier, Anna-Jasmina Donaubauer, Christoph Bert, Manfred Schmidt, Friedrich Kruse, Oliver Ott, Markus Hecht, Rainer Fietkau, Benjamin Frey, Florian Putz

Management of Thyroid Eye Disease-Related Strabismus

Mohammad Reza Akbari, Arash Mirmohammadsadeghi, Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh, Amirreza Veisi

Understanding Pathogenesis Intersects With Effective Treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease

Terry J Smith

Emerging Insights Into the Role of Epigenetics and Gut Microbiome in the Pathogenesis of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Yan Wang, Xiao-Min Ma, Xin Wang, Xin Sun, Ling-Jun Wang, Xin-Qi Li, Xiao-Yan Liu, Hong-Song Yu

This page is made possible by the extensive research done by TED patients: Wendy & Vicki.