Lillie Barrett, a 22-year-old receptionist in London, suffered a terrifying ordeal after getting eyelash extensions at a luxurious Russian salon. Within hours of the procedure, her eyes turned a cloudy grey, and she began experiencing swelling and excessive watering, all while wearing her contact lenses. These symptoms persisted, leaving her blind for several months due to changes in her cornea’s color and other distressing effects.
The day after her eyelash extensions, Lillie sought help from a pharmacist for what she initially thought was conjunctivitis. Unfortunately, her condition deteriorated rapidly within two days. In addition to increasing inflammation and pain, Lillie noticed a yellowish discharge accumulating on her cornea. As her vision steadily declined, she ultimately lost all sight in her left eye.
Lillie told the Sun “I didn’t have any 3D vision.Everything looked flat because I couldn’t see from this [left] eye.” After undergoing thorough medical examinations, Lillie received a diagnosis of a corneal ulcer, a condition characterised by open sores forming on the surface of the eye. Experts explained that this type of ulcer often occurs in contact lens wearers due to friction between the lens and the eyeball, leading to damage and ulceration.
Following her diagnosis, Lillie underwent surgical intervention to restore her vision and address the corneal issue. Lillie expressed that for six months following the infection, she reduced her outings and felt emotionally affected by the ordeal. Even now, nearly a year and a half later, she has not fully recovered her vision in her left eye.She stated “I can now see much more than I could, but my vision is still bad”
What is a corneal ulcer?
A corneal ulcer is a corneal lesion in the form of an open sore on the eye surface caused by external infections. Experts classify this as a major health issue leading to serious consequences. Cornea is the clear transparent dome-shaped covering at the front side of the eyes.
Common symptoms of a corneal ulcer include redness, tearing irritation, sensitivity to light and the presence of ‘pus’ or other discharge. Patients can experience a feeling like having something in their eye, intolerance to light, blurred vision, swollen lids, and a white or gray colored spot on cornea.
The notable thing is that the corneal ulcers usually affect only one eye. The doctors, usually, give the advice that the cornea takes 2-3 weeks to heal after receiving treatment.Nevertheless, with time, the closed corneal ulcers evolve, increasing the probability of development of corneal scars that in turn can worsen the vision, develop astigmatism, or increase the risk of cataract and glaucoma.
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