ARVO 2026: The natural history of thyroid eye disease

Dr. Madhura Tamhankar, a professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, presented researc on the natural history of thyroid eye disease (TED) at this year’s ARVO meeting held in Denver, Colorado. Contrary to the Rundels curve, which suggested a 1.5-year active phase followed by a stable period, a study of over 30,000 patients revealed that one-third experienced disease progression. Early detection and prevention are crucial, as 92% of patients initially present with mild disease, with only a small subset developing severe forms. Effective management includes lifestyle modifications, thyroid function tests, and potentially disease-modifying therapies or surgery.