Other names: TED

Thyroid eye disease is a rare, progressive, autoimmune disease of the orbit (eye socket), characterized by inflammation and tissue expansion behind the eye.

As thyroid eye disease progresses, it can cause proptosis (eye bulging), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), diplopia (double vision), and in some cases can lead to blindness.

Thyroid eye disease can often occur in people with Graves’ disease, which is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

The exact cause of thyroid eye disease is not clearly understood, but it is thought to be caused by autoantibodies activating an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R)-mediated signalling complex on the orbital fibroblasts. Once activated, orbital fibroblasts cause severe inflammation and expansion of tissue, muscle, and fat cells behind the eye.

Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) is FDA-approved for the treatment of thyroid eye disease. It works by binding to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) on the orbital fibroblasts to block activation and signaling.

Drugs used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease