Endocrine Abstracts

The majority of patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) improve spontaneously without any specific intervention. Some have acute sight-threatening complications and most are left with significant disfigurement. Numerous medical treatments have been tried and most do not work. Steroids and orbital irradiation are helpful in some cases, but neither has a major impact on appearance. All patients with TED deserve consideration for rehabilitative reconstructive surgery. The role of the endocrinologist is to achieve and maintain euthyroidism, and identify patients who would benefit from further specialist input, particularly by orbital, eye muscle and oculoplastic surgeons.