For Himself and His Daughters: One Father’s Journey with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)

How early symptom recognition and specialized care helped one dad get back to doing more of the things he loved.

"Is there anything we can do to make you feel better?"

The question came from Rizwan's daughters, ages 11 and 13. That simple question marked a turning point for Rizwan. It was the moment he realized that what he was experiencing required another conversation with his doctor.

Until then, Rizwan had been adjusting his everyday life around his worsening eye symptoms, hoping no one noticed. But as his daughters started to grasp that something was different with dad, he knew it was time to take action.

How It Started: The Connection Between Graves' Disease and TED

In 2023, Rizwan was diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to become overactive and produce more thyroid hormone than the body needs.^1,2,3

A few months later, as the appearance and function of his eyes began to change, Rizwan discussed these symptoms with his endocrinologist. Suspecting he may have TED, his doctor referred him to a TED Specialist. His endocrinologist's suspicions were correct, and Rizwan was diagnosed with TED, a lifelong, autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the muscle and fat tissue behind the eyes, causing symptoms such as eye bulging and double vision.^4,5

Up to 40% of people with Graves' disease may also develop TED, but the conditions are separate and require different treatments.^6,7,8 TED symptoms can vary from person to person, range in severity, and may develop gradually.^6,9,10

When the Symptoms Became Impossible to Ignore

Rizwan first noticed subtle changes in his vision and appearance, but they worsened over time.

"Driving was almost impossible because of my double vision. I only drove nearby to the grocery store, not more than a couple of miles," Rizwan says.

He also had to give up cycling, a lifelong passion. As his vision continued to be a challenge and changes to his appearance became more noticeable, Rizwan began stepping back from his routine: taking part in hobbies he'd always loved, spending time with friends, and being able to confidently drive himself and his daughters to their various activities.

"The changes weren't just physical. They were affecting how I saw myself and how I was able to manage the activities of my everyday life, especially with my children," he says.

Finding a Treatment

After being diagnosed with both Graves' disease and TED, Rizwan was suddenly faced with managing two conditions at once.

At the time, it felt overwhelming. He focused on treating his Graves' disease first, assuming it would also help improve his eye symptoms. It felt like the logical place to start, so he didn't immediately prioritize care for his TED.

However, as his symptoms became more and more impactful-and his daughters' concern grew-he knew it was time to seek out treatment specific to TED. After speaking with his TED Specialist, Rizwan began TEPEZZA® (teprotumumab-trbw), the first FDA-approved treatment for TED, which has been used to treat more than 25,000 patients.^*11,12,13

*Based on 25,062 individual patients enrolled in Amgen By Your Side who received at least one dose of TEPEZZA from February 5, 2020 - November 14, 2025. TED diagnosis is assumed based on initiation of TEPEZZA.

During treatment, Rizwan began to see improvement in his eye bulging, which was one of the most noticeable aspects of his condition.

"It was liberating," he said.

Rizwan is not alone. In a clinical study of patients who had TED for 9 months or less, more than 8 out of 10 people who took TEPEZZA saw reduced eye bulging by at least 2mm, compared to 1 out of 10 who took placebo.^11,14

By the end of his treatment, Rizwan also experienced significant improvement in his double vision (diplopia), allowing him to navigate daily activities more easily.

In clinical studies, 7 out of 10 people who took TEPEZZA saw improvements in double vision, compared to 3 out of 10 who took placebo.^15,16

As his symptoms continued to improve, Rizwan was able to get back to more of the routines and activities that once felt out of reach. He was feeling more confident in the way he looked, getting back to more of the hobbies he loved, and most importantly, confidently managing the activities of his daily life as a father.

From Awareness to Advocacy

Rizwan's journey reflects not just how far he came, but what he learned along the way. What began with uncertainty evolved into a clearer understanding of his condition, the differences between TED and Graves' disease, and the importance of seeking specialized care for TED.

"I do wish I had sought treatment for TED sooner than I did," says Rizwan. "Without the right treatment, my condition was impacting so many parts of my daily life and early intervention could have made a big difference."

Today, Rizwan volunteers as a peer mentor, helping others navigating TED feel less alone and get the care and support they need faster. He hopes that by sharing his experience, he can help others get back to doing more of what they love, with the people that are important to them.

References

1. American Thyroid Association. (2016). Graves' eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy or Graves' orbitopathy).
2. Smith, T. J., & Hegedüs, L. (2016). Graves' disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(16), 1552-1565.
3. Barrio-Barrio, J., Sabater, A. L., Bonet-Farriol, E., Velázquez-Villoria, Á., & Galore, J. C. (2015). Graves' ophthalmopathy: VISA versus EUGOGO classification, assessment, and management. Journal of Ophthalmology, 2015, Article 249125.
4. Patel, A., Yang, H., & Douglas, R. S. (2019). A new era in the treatment of thyroid eye disease. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 208, 281-288.
5. Smith, Terry J., et al. "How Patients Experience Thyroid Eye Disease." Frontiers in Endocrinology, vol. 14, 2023, article 1283374, doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1283374.
6. Burch, H. B., Perros, P., Bednarczyk, T., Cooper, D. S., Dolman, P. J., Leung, A. M., Mombergs, I., Salvi, M., & Stan, M. N. (2022). Management of thyroid eye disease: A consensus statement by the American Thyroid Association and the European Thyroid Association. European Thyroid Journal, 11(6), e220189.
7. Bahn, R. S. (2010). Graves' ophthalmopathy. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(8), 726-738.
8. Burch, Henry B., et al. "Management of Thyroid Eye Disease: A Consensus Statement by the American Thyroid Association and the European Thyroid Association." Thyroid, vol. 32, no. 12, 2022, doi:10.1089/thy.2022.0251
9. National Organization for Rare Disorders. (2020). Thyroid eye disease.
10. Couch, S. M. (2019). Thyroid eye disease. Glaucoma Today, January/February 2019, 38-40.
11. TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw) [prescribing information] Amgen.
12. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020, January 21). FDA approves first treatment for thyroid eye disease [Press release].https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-first-treatment-for-thyroid-eye-disease-300990621.html
13. Data on File. Amgen, September 2025.
14. Kahaly, G. J., Douglas, R. S., Holt, R. J., Sile, S., & Smith, T. J. (2021). Teprotumumab for patients with active thyroid eye disease: A pooled data analysis, subgroup analyses, and off-treatment follow-up results from two randomised, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicentre trials. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Advance online publication.
15. Smith, Terry J., et al. "Teprotumumab for Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy." The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 376, no. 18, May 4, 2017, pp. 1748-1761.
16. Douglas, R.S., et al. "Teprotumumab for the Treatment of Active Thyroid Eye Disease." The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 382, no. 4, Jan. 23, 2020, pp. 341-352.