The Management of Thyroid Eye Disease: From Current Practice to Future Perspectives

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a complex autoimmune disease, which can have debilitating and possibly sight-threatening consequences. TED can present with diplopia, strabismus, pain and exophthalmos. Despite pathophysiology not being fully elucidated, key components of the TED pathogenesis pathway have been established. Current management focuses on reducing inflammation in the active phase of TED and subsequently employs surgical interventions to rectify the clinical sequelae that arise post-inflammation. However, given the side effect profiles and varying efficacy of current treatment options, there is a need for newer advanced therapeutic options. Future therapies are focusing on biologic use and small-molecule antagonists. This could revolutionise the treatment of TED, as these therapeutic techniques target specific parts of the TED pathophysiological pathway unlike most of the current treatments available today. The current and future landscape of TED treatment is a rapidly changing scene. This article will provide an insight into the current therapeutic options for TED, whilst discussing future potential treatments.