Princeton Police Officer With Rare Eye Disease

The friends and family of a Princeton Police Officer have created a GoFundMe fundraiser after he received a medical diagnosis of "Coats Disease", a rare and progressive eye disorder which has left him nearly blind in one eye.

In December of 2022, veteran Princeton Police Officer Alex Kaufmann began to notice problems with his left eye. After several tests and appointments with doctors he was diagnosed with Coats Disease, a rare and progressive eye disorder.

The condition is marked by the abnormal development of blood vessels behind the retina, leading to fluid leakage and swelling. These changes eventually cause the retina to detach, posing severe threats to vision. Currently, there is no cure for Coats Disease.

Living with Coats Disease means facing a lifetime of vigilant monitoring and ongoing medical care. The journey so far has been challenging, marked by numerous complications including severe recurrent headaches, loss of peripheral vision, retinal detachment, cataract development, and severely impaired vision. His vision has deteriorated to the point where he can no longer discern fingers held more than three feet away, and his pupil no longer constricts. To date he has had four surgeries and multiple eye injections.

After a year of numerous procedures, his progressive medical condition has worsened and unfortunately he is unable to return to active patrol duties. As a result, Officer Kaufmann will no longer receive a paycheck or medical insurance benefits through the town and now has to attempt to qualify for a disability retirement, which can take up to 18 months to finalize.

In order to keep medical benefits active for himself, his wife and two young children, Officer Kaufmann will have to pay significant sums of money out of pocket for Cobra insurance. Again, the exorbitant costs for maintaining insurance coverage and continued struggles/procedures required for his medical condition will result in a long stressful period while he navigates the unknown difficulties ahead.

Please consider a donation to him and his family during their time of need. Officer Kaufmann has dedicated his life serving others in his community and any donation helps. Thank you.