First Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week to Increase Education and Understanding of Vision-Threatening Disease - Seite 2

“When I was diagnosed more than five years ago, I didn’t know where to turn and felt isolated living with a rare disease,” said Beatriz Mallory, Thyroid Eye Disease patient advocate and co-host of TED Today. “I’m honored to participate in this important event, share my experience and hear the inspirational stories of others. I hope that our actions to educate and raise awareness of Thyroid Eye Disease this week and beyond will help motivate people who are living with or are at risk for developing this debilitating disease to advocate for themselves, find a community, and get the support and care that they deserve.”

“At Horizon, we are focused on addressing the needs of patients living with rare diseases, including Thyroid Eye Disease, not only with therapies, but also by providing tools and resources to help patients actively manage their disease and improve their experience,” said Tim Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Horizon. “Through our collaboration with AARDA, AEVR, GDATF and Prevent Blindness, we are encouraging patients, physicians and advocates to continue sharing personal stories and educating about Thyroid Eye Disease with the hope of shedding light on this truly life-altering disease. We are proud to support the first Thyroid Eye Disease Awareness Week and look forward to establishing it as an annual milestone.”

Find additional information about TED at ThyroidEyes.com, and visit the AARDA, AEVR, GDATF and Prevent Blindness websites for more information about our advocacy collaborators.

About Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)

TED is most often seen in patients with Graves’ disease – affecting up to half of people with Graves’ – but it is a distinct disease that requires separate treatment.^1,2,3 A diagnosis of TED may even precede a finding of Graves’ and can serve as an early warning sign of future thyroid dysfunction.⁴ TED can also occur in Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism or even in patients with neither diagnosis.³ Common symptoms of TED include light sensitivity, eye grittiness, bulging eyes and double vision, among others – all of which can reduce a person’s independence, ability to work and self-confidence.^5,6 In fact, people living with TED often experience long-term functional, psychosocial and economic burdens, including inability to work and perform activities of daily living.^6,7