Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy: Who and How to Treat

Thyroid-associated orbitopathy is the most frequent and troublesome nonthyroidal complication of Graves' disease. It is mandatory to determine whether sight-threatening orbitopathy is present, as this requires prompt and aggressive treatment. Therapies for non–sight-threatening disease range from supportive measures only to medical therapies for active eye disease and surgical rehabilitation for burnt-out disease. Intravenous steroids and orbital radiotherapy are the mainstays of medical therapy. Rehabilitative surgery is frequently a staged process that may involve sequentially: orbital decompression, strabismus surgery, and eyelid procedures. Smoking cessation is recommended at all disease stages. Treatment within a multidisciplinary team consisting of both endocrinologists and ophthalmologists may lead to optimal patient outcomes.