Woman Has To Tape Or Glue Eyes Open Just To See Due To Bizarre Condition

Some mornings, waking up can feel like a struggle, making it hard to keep your eyes open.

But for this young woman, keeping her eyes open is not just a challenge – it’s a daily battle.

Due to an unusual condition, she has to tape or glue her eyelids open just to see.

Back in May 2023, Tia-Leigh Streamer woke up with one of her eyelids drooping.

At the time, she assumed it was just a case of hay fever.

Then, in December of that same year, she woke up and found herself completely unable to open either of her eyes.

She was only 20 years old when this happened, and her doctors, including her GP and specialists at Southampton Hospital, were left confused about what was causing it.

Eventually, Streamer was told she may be suffering from a rare neurological condition called blepharospasm.

According to the NHS, this condition causes involuntary spasms in the muscles around the eyes, leading to uncontrollable twitching, blinking, or fluttering.

In extreme cases, like hers, the spasms become so severe that the person cannot physically open their eyes.

Despite her struggles, Streamer points out that her actual eyesight is perfectly fine.

However, since she cannot physically open her eyes on her own, she experiences the same level of sight impairment as someone who is legally blind.

“I know it’s neurological but the doctors don’t know what causes it which makes it worse for me, because if they could say it’s caused from this, I think it would make me feel slightly less in the dark,” she said.

“To be told I’ve got this for the rest of my life and not know why is a hard thing to deal with.”

There is currently no cure for her condition, but doctors have been trying different treatments to help her keep her eyes open. One of the primary methods they have tested is Botox injections.

Since March of last year, specialists at Royal Bournemouth Hospital have been administering Botox to her eyelids, and without these injections, she is completely unable to open her eyes.

However, once the effects of the Botox wear off, her only options are to use tape, glue, or physically hold her eyelids open with her hands.

Even when the treatment is effective, bright lights, car headlights, and computer screens can trigger her eyelids to close involuntarily.

Living with this condition has been incredibly difficult for Streamer, and she admits that she has been struggling to cope, especially when the Botox wears off.

“The more often I have it, at some point my body will get used to the Botox and it won’t work anymore,” she added.

“I have them done every eight to 10 weeks at the moment. It was 12 weeks. But I only get about three to five weeks where it actually takes any effect.”

She often has to hold her eyelids open manually just to be able to see, but doctors have warned her that the longer she continues doing this, the greater the risk of causing long-term damage to her eyes.

“I’ve actually had bruises on my eyelids from the tape before.”

Before her condition worsened, Streamer was training to become an accountant. Unfortunately, due to her struggles, she has had to put her career on hold.

“It was awful to be honest, I had everything planned out. I was training to do that and I was saving to move out and get married and have children and it was all taken away from me,” she said.

One of the hardest parts for her has been the loss of independence. She can no longer do simple daily tasks without assistance, and even basic activities like cooking have become difficult.

“It’s like I’m going back to being a child again because I can’t use a knife and fork and see what I’m doing,” she added.

One of her biggest concerns is how her condition will affect her future, especially when it comes to starting a family with her partner.

“Night-time is the worst, they just won’t open at all. I have nightmares about a baby next to me and it’s crying and I can’t wake my husband up and I can’t get around to help because of my eyes,” she explained.

“I do know now there are things that can be put in place to help because obviously people who are blind all the time still have children.”

Streamer said this year will be a period of “trial and error” as her doctors work to find the right Botox dosage that might give her better results.