According to an announcement from invisionmag.com, the nonprofit organization Prevent Blindness has announced the fifth annual Thyroid Eye Disease Awareness Week, which is being recognized from Nov. 18-24, 2024. Thyroid eye disease, which is also called Graves’ ophthalmopathy or Graves’ eye disease, is an autoimmune disorder resulting in eye swelling and inflammation, as well as the abnormal production of fat and muscle behind the eye.
Know The Symptoms
The general public, as well as many professionals in the medical field, lack awareness about thyroid eye disease, so understanding some of the signs and symptoms of the illness can be important. Symptoms can include:
- Puffy eyelids
- Eye redness
- Watery eyes
- High sensitivity to light
- Bulgy eyes
- General eye irritation, dryness, and grittiness
In more advanced cases more serious complications can appear, such as:
- Vision loss or blurred vision triggered by compression of the optic nerve or damage to the cornea
- Difficulty closing or moving the eyes
- This can lead to corneal ulcers
- Dulled colors
Research has found that patients are at an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Symptoms can also affect other aspects of a patient’s life, such as socializing, work/school productivity, and self-esteem.
Prevent Blindness has developed resources to help spread awareness about the disorder, including webpage, graphics for social media, and fact sheets. The organization also has multiple episodes of its Eye Health Expert Webinar series dedicated to thyroid eye disease:
- Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)
- Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) and Mental Wellness
- Thyroid Eye Disease and the TED Community
“We are in an exciting time of offering hope and help to those with thyroid eye disease and their care partners, thanks to access to new treatment options and the development of new medications on the horizon. Because TED often impacts vision and mental health, our goal is to provide the public, patients, and care partners with information needed to understand and mitigate the effects of TED and help patients enjoy a high quality of life for years to come.” – Jeff Todd, President and CEO, Prevent Blindness
Click here to learn more about Prevent Blindness.
