A 22-year-old receptionist, Lillie Barrett, from London, suffered a horrible trauma after a beauty treatment went wrong, leaving her blind for several months. The incident occurred following a visit to a luxurious Russian salon for eyelash extensions. Just hours after the procedure, Barrett's eyes exhibited concerning symptoms, including cloudiness, swelling, and excessive watering, despite her wearing contact lenses at the time.

Barrett initially misunderstood the symptoms as conjunctivitis and sought assistance from a pharmacist the next day. However, within two days, her condition worsened, with her experiencing increasing inflammation, pain, and a yellowish discharge accumulating on her cornea. Subsequently, Barrett lost all vision in her left eye, a situation she described as feeling like everything appeared flat due to the lack of 3D vision.

Medical examinations revealed that Barrett had developed a corneal ulcer, a serious condition characterized by open sores on the surface of the eye. Corneal ulcers typically arise from external infections, with contact lens wearers being particularly susceptible due to friction between the lens and the eyeball.

Barrett underwent surgical intervention to address the corneal issue and restore her vision. However, the recovery process was difficult; Barrett reduced her outings and had mental distress for six months after the infection. Even a year and a half later, her vision in her left eye has not fully recovered.

Corneal ulcers can cause redness, tearing, irritation, sensitivity to light, discharge, and other symptoms, even though they usually only affect one eye. Even though therapy can speed up the healing process, there is still a chance of side effects such as astigmatism, corneal scarring, and increased sensitivity to glaucoma and cataracts.

Barrett advises others to opt for daily disposable lenses, which pose a lower risk of infection compared to monthly ones. Despite ongoing challenges, Barrett has considered surgery to further improve her vision after witnessing success stories shared by others on social media platforms like TikTok. However, she initially hesitated due to concerns about potential risks associated with the procedure.

By sharing her story, Barrett hopes to raise awareness about the potential risks associated with beauty procedures and the importance of prioritizing eye health and safety.

(Input from various media sources)

(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)