Justin Belsky is turning his own experience with vision problems and a corneal transplant into a career of helping others with similar problems.

Mr. Belsky, 22, completed his undergraduate work at Michigan State University. The West Bloomfield native, who now resides in Royal Oak, is a second-year medical student at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

He became interested in ophthalmology when he began to lose his vision near the end of high school. He said a corneal transplant two years ago taught him "to value vision."

"It seemed like overnight I lost my vision, and the impact it has had on my life has driven me to help people see again. If it wasn't for the corneal specialists who worked with me, I would be legally blind," he said. "I want to spread my message that vision is a gift and should be valued. It can be taken away at any time for no apparent reason. I was lucky enough to have it restored, but for many, this is not an option. Hopefully my future research will narrow the gap between those who have no cure and those who do."

Mr. Belsky is spending the summer performing research at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, examining the effectiveness of intraocular pressure measures in abnormal corneas. Mr. Belsky, who selected WSU for his medical education because of the diversity of the clinical setting, secured the Wilmer position through persistence. He sent e-mails to doctors across the country who perform cornea research, and the institute took him on for the summer.

The "gold standard" in measuring intraocular pressure is only accurate for normal corneas, he explained. In unusual corneas, the measuring standard is inaccurate, a factor in incorrect diagnosis and treatment for glaucoma. His research involves looking at various parameters of the cornea and seeing how inaccurate the standard is in measuring abnormal corneas. The work will include inserting a device into the eye during surgery, determining the true value and comparing it with the standard.

"In short, I am looking to see how inaccurate the gold standard in measuring intraocular pressure is with the true intraocular pressure in abnormal corneas," he explained. "This will give physicians a better indication of when to start treatment for glaucoma and other various diseases."

Involved in the Humanistic Medicine program and Vision Detroit - a program that seeks to screen the Detroit population for serious eye conditions that need immediate attention - he wants to wants to join an academic institution to pursue his passion for research, specializing in the cornea.

The friendly setting at the School of Medicine has been a welcome surprise for Mr. Belsky. "I thought medical school would be cutthroat. Although competition between the class exists, everyone for the most part is willing to help you get through this."