CHICAGO – November 04, 2026 -- Prevent Blindness has declared Nov. 9-15, 2026, its Seventh Annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Week, with free educational resources in English and Spanish for people living with the condition.
What thyroid eye disease does to vision and appearance
TED, also called Graves' ophthalmology or Graves' eye disease, is often caused by certain types of thyroid disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can inflame and swell the tissues around the eyes and cause pain. Most cases are mild. Severe cases can keep the eyes from moving and closing properly, make the eyes bulge and cause double vision. These changes can alter physical appearance and reduce quality of life.
Yale Medicine reports that TED affects 25-50 percent of people with Graves' disease.
Prevent Blindness offers free guides, videos and a podcast episode
The organization provides webpages, fact sheets, social media graphics, and expert and patient videos. This year it adds a new Graves' disease flyer and a video explaining the condition and its effects on vision.
In the November episode of the Focus on Eye Health Podcast, Sonalika Khachikian, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist at Monument Health, discusses Graves' disease, TED and other conditions that can significantly impair vision.
Patient stories debut on social media during TED Week
New this year, Prevent Blindness will share "Thyroid Eye Disease Patient Stories" across its social channels. In August, people with TED or Graves' disease, several of them graduates of the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program, met in Chicago for intensive storytelling training. The sessions covered the craft of storytelling, delivery techniques, practical application and shared medical terminology. Participants' stories were professionally recorded, and the series is also available as a YouTube playlist.
Julie Grutzmacher, senior director of patient advocacy and population health initiatives and leader of the ASPECT program, said the storytellers are sharing painful moments "to give hope to others."
Four more videos cover personal stories, mental health and treatment
- Thyroid Eye Disease: Susan's Story: ASPECT graduate Susan R. shares her experience with TED.
- Did You Know: Thyroid Eye Disease: an animated video produced with the Vision Health Advocacy Coalition.
- Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) and Mental Wellness: Prem Subramanian, MD, PhD, of Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, UCHealth, discusses TED, Graves' disease, new treatment options, and how patients can advocate for their mental health and find support.
- Thyroid Eye Disease and the TED Community: Christine Gustafson, Executive Director and CEO of the TED Community Organization, describes her path to diagnosis and TED's impact on her mental health.
Amgen and Viridian Therapeutics are the Platinum sponsors of this year's TED Week. Prevent Blindness also lists organizations that provide financial assistance for vision care, in English and Spanish.