Question

What are the stages of thyroid eye disease?

Hint:

Thyroid Eye Disease progresses through inflammatory, fibrotic, and stable stages, with inflammation being the most prominent in the early stages.

Answer 1

Thyroid Eye Disease (TE, also known as Graves' orbitopathy, progresses through various stages. The classification of TED is based on the disease’s progression and clinical features:
Stages of Thyroid Eye Disease:
1. Acute (Inflammatory) Stage:
- This stage is characterized by inflammation of the extraocular muscles, leading to swelling and redness of the eye. The inflammation can also cause pain and watery eyes.
- The ocular muscles may become swollen and infiltrated, leading to symptoms of double vision (diplopi and eye bulging (proptosis).
2. Chronic (Fibroti Stage:
- In this stage, the inflammation subsides, and fibrosis of the extraocular muscles may develop. This leads to scarring, which can result in permanent double vision and reduced eye movement.
- The proptosis (bulging of the eyes) may persist, and the risk of optic nerve compression increases.
3. Stable Stage:
- This stage follows the inflammatory and fibrotic processes, and the disease tends to stabilize. In some patients, proptosis and muscle involvement may remain, but further progression of the disease stops.
- There is minimal inflammation, and the patient’s symptoms may become less severe or subside.