I've worn glasses since I was 5 years old, so in February of 2020 when my vision started to seem blurry, I believed I just needed a new prescription and scheduled an appointment with my eye doctor for March. Due to Covid-19, that appointment was canceled and I was unable to be seen by the doctor until late September. 


At that time, my eye doctor ran some tests and suspected that I had a rare eye condition called Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a thinning of the cornea causing an area to bulge or become cone-shaped. As a result, vision becomes blurry and can lead to double-vision. While my right eye shows only early signs, my left eye is actively worsening and it has been significantly affecting my day-to-day life in the forms of severe headaches, light sensitivity, and general vision deficiencies. There is no cure for this condition, instead, treatment is focused on preventing the thinning from worsening to extreme forms which would ultimately result in the need for a cornea transplant. 


I worked to get to a cornea specialist as soon as possible. Initially, I was referred to a specialist who refused to see me as a patient because I was working in healthcare during the pandemic. The next specialist I was able to schedule with confirmed the diagnosis, but when it came to scheduling the treatment, they stopped answering calls. Finally, I was finally able to see another specialist months later that has been night and day compared to the specialist I initially saw. I feel confident putting my vision in his care. 


This specialist works solely with Keratoconus patients and recommended me for Collagen Cross-Linking. This procedure involves removing a layer of epithelial cells, inserting a special form of eye drops, then hardening the drops with a UV light. All of this is in hopes of preventing the progression of this condition. 


Unfortunately, after five weeks of waiting for approval my insurance company has denied my request to cover any of this treatment. So now, on top of working to be able to afford my first year of Physical Therapy school in August, I need to find funds to cover this treatment. Since my insurance company refuses to cover the costs, I'm opting for a less expensive clinical trial that is believed to last longer. The cost of the clinical trial will also cover my aftercare visits for the first year. The treatment itself is $4,200, however, I’ll be out of work for at least a week and may need longer before I’m able to return full time due to strain on my eyes as well as increased light sensitivity.


I’ve worked so incredibly hard to get into grad school and this seemingly small amount of money could dramatically change the course of my education. I don’t want to have to choose between my vision and my education and becoming the first doctor in my family. I'm not the type to ask for help, but this new expense is time-sensitive and is causing an abundance of stress for both me and my family. Any small donation toward the cost of preserving my vision would be incredibly appreciated!