Chong Wee Hou, Optometrist, International Eye Cataract Retina Centre, Singapore
Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a devastating orbital disease that presents with bulgy eyes, staring look due to eyelid retraction, double vision and blurring of vision. It is usually associated with thyroid hormone dysfunction, the main condition being Graves’ disease.
The International Thyroid Eye Disease Society (ITEDS) recently held its biennial symposium in Singapore from 22-23 February 2019. Dr Shantha Amrith, Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist from International Eye Cataract Retina Centre, was among the 400 delegates from around the world who attended the meeting.
ITEDS is a non-profit society dedicated to educating the public and physicians about thyroid eye disease as well as conducting research to understand the disease which may lead to new ways of prevention and cures.
The meeting was a great success, with many leading international experts discussing clinical presentations of thyroid dysfunction, TED including various phenotypical manifestations, challenges in management, recent advances in research and various surgical approaches for TED complications.
Ongoing clinical trials with monoclonal antibodies, steroids and radiation, and other immunomodulatory drugs and radiation were discussed at length during the meeting. Some of the treatment modalities seem to improve proptosis, strabismus and early optic neuropathy, but the conclusive results will only be available after the studies are completed.
There were some surgical videos demonstrating orbital decompression techniques, strabismus surgery and eyelid surgeries. Steroid and filler injections for eyelid retraction were also discussed.
