At just 21, Tia-Leigh Streamer faces a daily struggle many can't imagine: she has to physically tape her eyelids open to see the world around her. What began as a minor eye issue two years ago has now become a life-altering condition that doctors call blepharospasm—a rare neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable eyelid twitching and, in severe cases like Tia-Leigh’s, leads to complete and sustained eye closure.
In an interview with The Sun, she shared that though her eyesight is perfectly healthy, the condition leaves her effectively blind. Classified as " functional blindness," it means her eyes work, but she can’t use them because her eyelids won’t stay open. Tia-Leigh’s diagnosis didn’t come quickly. After initially waking up with a droopy eyelid, she assumed it was hay fever. It wasn’t until months later, when she awoke unable to open either eye, that she finally received clarity on what was happening.
Now, she relies on regular Botox injections to weaken the muscles responsible for closing her eyes. These injections are given every 8 to 10 weeks, but their effect only lasts a few weeks at best. In between treatments, she must either physically hold her eyelids open or use tape and glue—methods that come with their own set of complications, like bruising and long-term eye damage.
The impact on her daily life has been profound. Once training to become an accountant, she had to give up her career due to the constant screen work required, which she can no longer manage. She rarely leaves the house alone and needs help with even basic tasks, such as preparing food or cutting it during meals. Former hobbies like crocheting have also become impossible, as one hand is always needed to keep her eyelid open.
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Tia-Leigh recently celebrated a joyful milestone—her wedding. She carefully timed her Botox injections so she could have her eyes open on her special day. Looking ahead, she hopes to become a mother one day but admits the thought is daunting. Her condition worsens at night, leaving her unable to open her eyes at all, leading to anxiety about how she’ll manage future responsibilities.
Her doctors are now exploring new ways to improve the effects of the Botox, adjusting dosage and injection locations in hopes of achieving longer-lasting relief.
In an interview with The Sun, she shared that though her eyesight is perfectly healthy, the condition leaves her effectively blind. Classified as " functional blindness," it means her eyes work, but she can’t use them because her eyelids won’t stay open. Tia-Leigh’s diagnosis didn’t come quickly. After initially waking up with a droopy eyelid, she assumed it was hay fever. It wasn’t until months later, when she awoke unable to open either eye, that she finally received clarity on what was happening.
Now, she relies on regular Botox injections to weaken the muscles responsible for closing her eyes. These injections are given every 8 to 10 weeks, but their effect only lasts a few weeks at best. In between treatments, she must either physically hold her eyelids open or use tape and glue—methods that come with their own set of complications, like bruising and long-term eye damage.
The impact on her daily life has been profound. Once training to become an accountant, she had to give up her career due to the constant screen work required, which she can no longer manage. She rarely leaves the house alone and needs help with even basic tasks, such as preparing food or cutting it during meals. Former hobbies like crocheting have also become impossible, as one hand is always needed to keep her eyelid open.
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Tia-Leigh recently celebrated a joyful milestone—her wedding. She carefully timed her Botox injections so she could have her eyes open on her special day. Looking ahead, she hopes to become a mother one day but admits the thought is daunting. Her condition worsens at night, leaving her unable to open her eyes at all, leading to anxiety about how she’ll manage future responsibilities.
Her doctors are now exploring new ways to improve the effects of the Botox, adjusting dosage and injection locations in hopes of achieving longer-lasting relief.
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