Pakistan Opens First Dedicated Thyroid Eye Disease Clinic

Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has launched Pakistan’s first clinic dedicated to Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), offering patients specialized treatment that combines expertise from both eye specialists and endocrinologists.

The facility aims to address a significant gap in healthcare, as thyroid-related eye conditions remain common yet often misdiagnosed nationwide. Thyroid disorders affect an estimated three to five percent of Pakistan’s population, with women making up the majority of cases.

Experts estimate that nearly 40 percent of these patients could develop eye-related complications, meaning millions may be at risk. Research in Lahore has shown that more than one in ten people may already be living with thyroid dysfunction, underscoring the need for targeted medical services.

Treatment for TED can be costly. Surgical procedures typically cost between Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 200,000, while ongoing medications range from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,000. Advanced drugs used internationally are priced at $16,000 to $17,000 per treatment cycle, making them inaccessible to most patients in Pakistan.

The hospital has expressed plans to explore collaborations that could make such therapies available locally. Globally, the disease affects five to 16 new patients per 100,000 each year.

It is more common among adults between 35 and 60, and women are several times more likely than men to develop it. The opening of this facility is expected to provide patients with improved access to care and timely management of a complex condition.