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Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disorder mainly associated with an overactive thyroid due to Graves’ disease. It can affect about a third of people with Graves’ disease. In most cases it is mild. There is now a lot that can be done to treat TED. Ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist eye centre that has experience of TED.

Common Symptoms

  • Staring or bulging eyes
  • Sore eyes: dry, watery or gritty
  • Swelling of lids
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Pain or difficulty in moving the eyes

Risk Factors

  • Smoking
  • Swings in thyroid levels, particularly hypothyroidism

Treatments for mild cases

  • Artificial tear drops
  • Prisms attached to spectacles to help with double vision

Treatments for more severe cases

  • Steroids to reduce swelling
  • Radiotherapy to reduce swelling
  • Rehabilitative surgery:
    • Decompression surgery
    • Eye muscle surgery
    • Eyelid surgery

Other factors

  • TED can affect your psychological and social well-being. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for advice
  • See your doctor without delay and ask for immediate referral to a specialist eye centre with experience of treating TED if you experience rapid and severe eye deterioration

Further information can be obtained from:

The Thyroid Eye Disease Charitable Trust
PO Box 2954
Calne SN11 8WR
Helpline 0844 800 8133
Email: ted@tedct.co.uk

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Clare wrote: ‘I would be very honoured to accept your invitation and would like to thank the Trustees for thinking of me. I am sure you are aware that my work is rather all-encompassing but I shall do what I can to help raise awareness of thyroid disorders and in doing so, to help those who are suffering.’

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