Treatment options for thyroid eye disease.

Patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) experience hypertrophy of their extraocular muscles and an increase in intraorbital fat volume leading to eyelid retraction, proptosis, double vision, and optic nerve compression. These orbital changes are thought to be due to a cross-reaction of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with antigens in the orbit. Therefore, the key to treatment is achievement of a euthyroid state in patients with abnormal thyroid function.