Raymond Douglas, MD, PhD, a world-leading clinician and thought leader in thyroid eye disease (TED) who has been integral to developing therapeutics for the disease, provides an overview of TED, including diagnosis challenges and current and emerging treatments for this rare disease.

TED is a rare autoimmune disease that can dramatically impact a person’s vision. The condition often occurs in people with hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease. Common symptoms can include upper eyelid retraction, dry eyes, inflammation, light sensitivity, as well as the sensation of a foreign body present in the eye.

TED is most often associated with Graves’ disease (GD), but also can occur in association with hypothyroidism, euthyroidism, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. GD affects approximately 1% to 2% of the adult population, with an estimated 40% of GD patients subsequently developing TED over the course of their lifetime. The onset of TED typically occurs between 30 and 50 years of age, with the disease course more severe after age 50.

Dr. Douglas has been appointed as Chief Scientific Officer at Sling Therapeutics.