After eight years together, this legally blind woman saw her 'best-friend' and guide dog for the first time.

After being diagnosed with bilateral optic neuritis - a degenerative visual impairment - two decades ago, Mary Sedgwick's sight declined.

The 48-year-old describes the gradual loss of her sight as: 'Like watching a movie that was slowly fading away' - a sensation that caused her to plummet into a deep depression.'

After spending eight years together, Mary Sedgwick saw her guide dog for the first time in an emotional moment using eSight glasses

Suddenly waking up in complete darkness in 2004, the former physician from Asheville, North Carolina, spent six years secluding herself from the outside world.

Mary then found 'a meaning to life' again when she was matched up with her golden retriever guide dog, Lucy.

Instantly hitting it off with one another, Mary began to enjoy life once again with a sense of freedom, but always wondered with Lucy looked like.

But last month Mary was selected to try out a pair of eSight glasses - a ground-breaking creation which uses a high-definition camera to restore the user's sight.

After spending six years in seclusion, Mary found 'a meaning to life' again when she was matched up with her golden retriever guide-dog, Lucy

Placing the eyewear onto her face, Mary is overwhelmed with emotion as she stares down into the loving eyes of Lucy for the first time in their companionship.

Delighted to see Lucy's 'physical beauty match the beauty of her nature', Mary ecstatically kisses and hugs Lucy, crying as her family and friends surround her.

Setting up a crowdfunding page to help her raise the 10,000 USD (7,500 GBP) required to purchase a pair of the glasses, Dr. Mary said:

'[After being diagnosed] I fell into a deep depression and began completely secluding myself from the outside world.

Instantly hitting it off with one another, Mary began to enjoy life once again with a sense of freedom, but always wondered with Lucy looked like

'I no longer knew why I existed on this planet anymore and I could see no meaning in my life.

'Then on March 4, 2004 I woke up in complete darkness - I was paralyzed with fear.

'Over the years, medication advanced to allow me to see faint light and shapes.

'The best way to describe it is like starting into a fogged mirror after a shower; for able-sighted people wiping away the fog allows them to see clearly, but for me the fog never goes away.

'Going from working some 80-hour weeks to being able to do nothing at all made me feel worthless.

Last month Mary was selected to try out a pair of eSight glasses (not pictured) - a ground-breaking creation which use a high-definition camera that restores the user's sight

'But when Lucy came leaping into the room for the first-time and knocked me off my chair, I knew she would be the one to carry on with my journey and find my freedom once again.

'Over the past several years I have not allowed myself to think about being able to see again with vibrant colours and clarity, because I believe it would no longer be possible.

'As the same time, there was always a seed within me that had never given up hope.'

Adoring Mary said: 'When Lucy came leaping into the room for the first-time and knocked me off my chair, I knew she would be the one to carry on with my journey and find my freedom once again

Attending the North Carolina Lions State Convention in Greensboro, NC, Mary was surprised when a friend reached out to eSight asking if Mary would be able to try out the glasses for herself.

At first passing on the opportunity through fear of false hope, she reluctantly agreed to try the technology out.

Mary said: 'Once the eSight glasses were placed on I knew I was going to be able to see significantly more than I'd be able to in the past 15 years.

'In the moment that I looked down to see Lucy's beautiful, soulful eyes that my life was going to change in drastic measures.

'The sensation of my brain firing signals after years of silence was truly mind-blowing.

The former physician is now fundraising to buy her own pair of the glasses, which cost $9,995 (£7,450)

'I wasn't able to control the flood of tear and my whole body was shaking - I exploded with joy as I got a glimpse into just how much my life could change.

'Having the eSight allowed me to see the love in Lucy's eyes and that was a blessing and gift I'll always treasure.

'Every moment since trying on the glasses has been a struggle, as I know how much they could change my life and allow me even to practice in the medical industry again.

'I've now started a fundraising campaign to help me reach the goal of $9,995 (£7,450) to purchase the glasses - I then want to help fundraise for others like me too.'

To donate to Mary's cause, please click here.