About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Report Says Australian Woman Unable to Open Eyes Three Days a Week

by Rajashri on September 29, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Report Says Australian Woman Unable to Open Eyes Three Days a Week

Media reports indicate that an Australian woman is blind three days out of every six because her eyes involuntarily shut and she cannot open them. This is a mysterious medical condition that has puzzled doctors.

Natalie Adler, who experts believe may be the only person in the world with this condition, said she has had this medical predicament since she was 17.

Advertisement

"I woke one Sunday and my eyes were swollen. It was the day before an English exam," the 21-year-old told Melbourne's Herald Sun.

"My eyes started closing intermittently, really randomly, but within a few weeks they were closing for three days (at a time)," said Adler.

Doctors from the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital said Adler's condition was baffling.
Advertisement

"She's a one-off and we don't have a diagnosis," said Professor Justin O'Day of the hospital's neuro-ophthalmology department.

"It's unusual to see somebody with this degree of spasming and eyelid closure, especially at this age. There is no known cause."

O'Day said the medical condition blepharospasm, which causes an involuntary closing of the eyes, could be used as a reference but that it did not explain why Adler's eyes closed according to a routine.

When Adler's eyes are closed, she can't see at all except through a small slit in her left eye. On the days when they are open, she can see clearly but her left eyelid droops.

For almost two years, doctors treated her by injecting Botox around her eyes, allowing her to see for five days out of six.

But the treatment no longer works for Adler, who also suffers from fatigue and nausea, and she is now hopeful that electrical stimulation tests around her eyes might help.

Adler plans her life around her condition, but still misses some important dates. "On my 18th birthday, my eyes were closed, but on my 21st they were open, so I had a party," she said.

"Not being able to go to the football or seeing my friends as much is what I miss the most."

Source: AFP
RAS/SK
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest General Health News

Hawk Data Pro: An Essential One Health Surveillance Tool for Rabies Management
Implementing the Hawk Data Pro system as a passive surveillance tool enabled us to record an ongoing rabies outbreak within a major Indian metropolis.
Wild Poliovirus Resurfaces in Pakistan
The Pakistan Ministry has announced the commencement of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign beginning on October 2, aiming to immunize more children.
US Woman Loses All Limbs in Fish-Related Bacterial Outbreak
In a tragic incident, a woman in the US experienced the loss of all her limbs as a result of a bacterial outbreak linked to the consumption of contaminated fish.
NIH Launches the First In-Human Universal Flu Vaccine Trial
FluMos-v2, a unique universal influenza vaccine candidate, undergoing a phase 1 trial at NIH, increases recipients' immunity against many influenza viruses.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative Assesses Vaccination Strategies in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the polio campaign focuses on more than 270,000 children under the age of five years, residing in areas with insufficient vaccine coverage.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Report Says Australian Woman Unable to Open Eyes Three Days a Week Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests