The Phases of Thyroid Eye Disease
Learn about the progression of normal eyes to the acute and chronic phases of thyroid eye disease
Jan 18, 2023
Aug 17, 2023
Conditions & TreatmentsRisa Kerslake is a registered nurse and freelance writer who lives in the Midwest, specializing in health, parenting and education topics. Her work has appeared in Women's World, Healthline, Parents, Discover, Sleep Foundation and Giddy, among others.
She's a professional member of both the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Association of Health Care Journalists. In addition to writing and helping people advocate for their own health, she's enthusiastic about crocheting and reading under the covers. You can find her at risakerslake.com.
Full BioLearn about our editorial policies
Learn about the progression of normal eyes to the acute and chronic phases of thyroid eye disease
Medically reviewed by Raymond Douglas, M.D., Ph.D., Cedars-Sinai
TED is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune cells to attack the healthy skin and tissue around and behind your eyes.
If you have a thyroid condition and are experiencing eye symptoms, you may have TED.TED is also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy or Graves’ Eye Disease because 9 in 10 people with TED have Graves’ disease.
About 1 in 2 people with Graves’ disease have symptoms of TED.
Graves’ disease causes immune cells to attack the thyroid, typically causing hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.
Less commonly, TED can happen to people who have hyperthyroidism without Graves’ or have hypothyroidism , a condition where the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.
Graves’ disease and TED both happen when the immune system attacks healthy body tissues. With Graves’ disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid gland. With TED, your immune system attacks the tissue in or around the eye. It’s possible to have one condition without the other.
There are two phases of TED: active and inactive.
Healthy eye: image
Eye in the active phase of TED
This is the “symptomatic” or “acute” phase.
The active phase can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years . Symptoms can be in both eyes, or one can be more severe than the other. Treatment to relieve symptoms begins in this phase.
Eye in the inactive phase of TED
This is the chronic phase.
Symptoms tend to go away and active inflammation goes down.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your thyroid or eye health. Since TED symptoms can worsen over time, it’s important to be diagnosed early so treatment can begin right away.
This resource was created with support from Horizon.