Over the past few months my vision has become increasingly worse. I thought I just needed an inrease in my prescription, and I wanted to get contacts so I went to my eye doctor. He told me something was wrong, but he couldn't tell me what. I sought a diagnosis from a number of doctors but to no avail. However, after spending an entire day with Dr. Elliot Berson of Mass Eye and Ear, I obtained a diagnosis. It was Dr. Berson and his staff at Mass Eye and Ear that was finally able to tell me I had a disease of the eye called Stargardt's Disease.Essentially, it is juvenile macular degeneration, and I am going totally blind. I will soon lose the center of my vision in both eyes.  Dr. Berson spent much time with my wife and I, discussing the changes I would go through and how this would effect my life both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, there is neither a current cure nor a treatment available. However, like with many diseases, the cure may lay just around the corner. In order to reach that potential cure, individuals like Dr. Berson need funding to engage in the necessary research.

 When asked to join the Mass Eye and Ear team for the 2013 Boston Maraton, I could think of no better way that I could give back to Mass Eye and Ear. I've been an avid runner for several years now, and I very excited to run the Boston Marathon. I've asked Mass Eye and Ear to provide all donations which I raise to Dr. Berson and his team, for research. Hopefully one day a cure for Stargardt's can be found. For now, I hope that any money I raise will go towards helping find cures for the many causes for vision loss. My life changed in a huge way this year. What better way to respond to a huge life change than to do something huge in return? Thank you for reading and please join us by donating. Every dollar counts!

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary wrote -

At Mass. Eye and Ear, our focus is your quality of life.  We treat everything that has to do with the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and neck - so that you and those you care about can get more out of the world around us.

Our physicians are more than just specialists; each is also a researcher and a teacher.  These doctors don't just apply the latest advances in medicine; they invent them.  Together with Mass. Eye and Ear scientists, they work tirelessly to understand the root causes of diseases that both take people's lives and rob too many others of their quality of life.

Every dollar raised makes it possible for Mass. Eye and Ear to excel in clinical care, research and medical education.  That, in turn, allows us to provide the finest specialty care to every person who comes through our door and to share our knowledge in order to help patients around the world.

Thank you for your support.