EXCL: Bishopbriggs teenager says rare eye condition won't hold him back
16 year old Ross Donaldson first noticed issues with his vision last November.
Last updated 17th Sep 2026
A sixteen year old boy from Bishopbriggs is telling us how a rare genetic eye condition has completely changed his life.
Ross Donaldson's vision was normal until November, 2025, when he started having problems seeing the board in his school classroom.
Speaking to Clyde 1, he said: "I thought I would've just needed glasses so we went to Specsavers. There were loads of tests that day, and I didn't think much of it, but they referred us to the hospital. It was a bit overwhelming."
Following several ophthalmology appointments, blood tests, and an MRI, Ross was diagnosed with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic condition that only affects around 1 in 30,000 people in the UK. Males aged between 15 to 35 are the most affected group.
Ross's vision has deteriorated rapidly, and he is now registered as Severely Visually Impaired (Blind).
"It's changed my life like nothing else has," Ross told Clyde 1. "Everyday stuff is just very challenging. Things you wouldn't have thought of, like putting toothpaste on a toothbrush, is complex now, and putting the right shoes on. It's just really basic things that have become challenging."
Ross's Dad, Jim, says the whole family have found the adjustment difficult, especially as they'd had no idea of what LHON actually was.
Jim told Clyde 1: "Even if we'd had a bit of foresight that this would happen, we could've been a lot more prepared than we were. It's sad seeing some of the things Ross is going through. But he's coping so well with it, he's making it easy."
Jim, is now set to take on the Glasgow half marathon in October, to raise funds for both Visibility Scotland and Saltire Strikers ten-pin bowling group. They've already raised over £9,000. He's hoping it'll raise awareness of the condition.
"There's been well over 265 individuals that have put money into it, so I just want to do them well!"
You can support Jim's fundraiser here.
Ross says he won't let his condition hold him back. "I had an apprenticeship lined up for joinery, but I don't think that's much of an option now. I was interested in radio though, as that's quite accessible, and lots of things are. There's so many different things that I can do."