First Annual Thyroid Eye Disease Awareness Week

Returning guest, Dr. Gary Lelli, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College discusses the first annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week (Nov 16 – 20, 2020) that aimed to advocate for awareness and education for this serious, progressive and vision-threatening rare autoimmune disease, which in certain cases, can lead to blindness.  Throughout the week, patients and caregivers were invited to tune into”TED Today”, a daily digital morning show hosted on the Listen To Your Eyes Facebook page featuring TED Specialists, patients and advocacy organizations to teach, inspire and create community among those living with or caring for someone tackling this rare disease. The five-episode series featured interviews from different TED perspectives, from patients and caregivers to ophthalmologists and mental health specialists.

Dr. Lelli is Vice Chair of Ophthalmology, a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in oculoplastic surgery – a specialty requiring two years of additional training after ophthalmology residency focused solely on plastic and reconstructive surgery of eyelids, orbit, and lacrimal system. During this training, accredited by the prestigious American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), Dr. Lelli gained broad clinical and surgical experience while treating patients at Columbia University Medical Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York University Hospital, Bellevue Medical Center and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.