HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2022-4640

HR 4640

ByRepresentatives Cody, Bronoske, Simmons, Harris, and Macri

WHEREAS, Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a serious, progressive, and rare autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy muscle and fat tissue behind the eye, causing inflammation and scar tissue to form; and

WHEREAS, People living with TED often have debilitating symptoms of eye bulging, double vision, blurred vision, and pain and facial disfigurement, which, in severe cases, can lead to blindness; and

WHEREAS, People living with TED often experience long-term impacts on functional, psychosocial, and economic burdens, including the inability to work or perform activities of daily living; and

WHEREAS, The exact underlying process by which TED occurs is not fully understood and TED is a serious, vision threatening condition that can get worse over time; and

WHEREAS, TED is a rare disease and is estimated to have a prevalence of 16 per 100,000 women in the general population, and 2.9 per 100,000 men in the general population; and

WHEREAS, A diagnosis of TED is based upon identification of characteristic symptoms, a detailed patient history, a thorough clinical evaluation, and a variety of specialized tests; and

WHEREAS, There is a genetic component to the condition and people who have a family member with the disease or a family member with an autoimmune disease are at a greater risk of developing the condition; and

WHEREAS, TED Awareness Week has been established through a collaboration among advocacy organizations, including the Autoimmune Association and Prevent Blindness; and

WHEREAS, The patient groups are engaged in disease awareness and patient support and the third week of November 2022, is recognized as Thyroid Eye Disease Week;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the third week of November 2022, as TED Awareness Week.