The diagnosis that changed everything
In his sophomore year of veterinary school, Steve was developing poor vision, making it difficult for him to see through microscopes in his courses. After numerous doctors couldn’t provide him with answers, a cornea specialist in New York City finally diagnosed him with keratoconus, an eye condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape.
Steve’s keratoconus progressed rapidly, requiring constant adjustments to his contact lenses.
“I had to go to this doctor who had to change my contact lenses once a month so I could see better,” Steve said. “The contacts were a little uncomfortable because my eye wasn’t smooth, and it came to a point.”
The discomfort was relentless—his eyes teared up constantly, and the strain made studying very difficult. Yet, Steve persevered, graduating in 1971 and launching his career as a veterinarian.
But the challenges didn’t end there. In 1972, desperate for relief, Steve began using topical anesthetics to numb the pain in his right eye so that he was able to see patients without tearing. It was a risky decision that led to a corneal ulcer, accelerating his need for a transplant. Later that year, Steve underwent his first cornea transplant in this right eye, followed by his second cornea transplant in his left eye in 1973.
“As a graduate veterinarian, I was able to do a small animal internship and residency and eventually become a practicing clinician all because of the vision-saving surgery I had received,” Steve said.
Early transplants: A different era
In the 1970s, cornea transplant surgeries were very different than today’s current practices. Steve spent eight days in the hospital after each surgery, mostly confined to his bed.
The surgeries, though grueling, were life changing.
“Prior to the contacts and the transplants, when I took my contacts out, I was legally blind,” he said. “I would see 100 moons–I could make out the primary moon, but there were all these other moons in my field of vision.”
After his first two transplants he could practice his profession without discomfort and regain his independence.
“Now they're doing such incredible transplant surgeries,” Steve said. “There's no comparison to what it was 50 years ago, but it really is, pardon the pun, eye opening.”
A lifetime of advances in care
Steve’s journey with corneal care didn’t end in the 1970s. In 1996, advancements in transplantation techniques prompted another surgery on his left eye. His original six-millimeter graft had left part of his natural cornea intact, which began to deform again due to the keratoconus. A new eight-millimeter graft resolved the issue, but his left eye would face more challenges in the years to come.
In 2019, Steve started experiencing recurring ulcers in his left eye. Complications continued when he contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a highly resistant bacterial infection, which left scar tissue that severely impacted his vision.
The situation called for another transplant, which Steve underwent in February 2023. This time, the journey was even more harrowing—MRSA returned shortly after the surgery, causing a deep ulcer. Yet, thanks to dedicated medical care and laser treatments, 95 percent of the scar tissue was removed.
A new scleral lens later restored his vision to an astonishing 20/25.
"It’s been a miraculous improvement," Steve said. "I can now drive at night. Previously, my wife had to pour my coffee because she was afraid I was going to scald myself because I couldn't see well enough. Now I can pour my coffee without burning myself. I can see the cup–it's a different world."
Gratitude for the gift of sight
Steve’s story is as much about gratitude as it is about resilience. Reflecting on the donor families who made his four transplants possible, Steve simply wants to thank each family for providing him with the gift of sight.
He also marvels at how far corneal care has come since his first surgeries.
"In the past, we had to wait for a donor about the same age," he said. "Now, the expertise is incredible. Instead of eight days in the hospital, you’re home in three hours. It’s mind-boggling."
For Steve, the impact of these transplants goes beyond restored vision—it’s about being able to live a full life.
"I was able to have a reasonable professional career as a result of the transplants and the contacts," he said. "I've had some very good medical people working with me, I'm very fortunate and it's been a journey."
A life well lived
Now retired and living in Connecticut, Steve and his wife stay active in their community, volunteering with local organizations and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Despite the challenges he’s faced, Steve is committed to giving back.
A registered eye, organ and tissue donor for 40 years, he hopes his own corneas—including his historic 50-year-old graft in his right eye—might one day contribute to research.
"Donation allows people who are seeing poorly or blind to function again in the world," Steve said. "It’s such a valuable thing."
Steve’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of the gift of sight. Through decades of challenges, medical breakthroughs and the generosity of multiple donors and their families, he has not only regained his vision but also his independence and drive to live a full life.
“I can always blame my poor eyesight on being a lousy golfer, but realistically, I'm very fortunate that the transplants allowed me to have a somewhat normal life as well as practice a profession that I did for 50 years,” he said.