Only about one hundred patients in the world suffer from the condition called cryptophthalmia (It is a rare congenital anomaly in which the skin is continuous over the eyeball with absence of eyelids).
When Liaoliao was born this February, her family faced the shocking news that her eyes were covered with skin, and she had no eyelashes or eyebrows.
As a result, the family were apprehensive about sharing the news of Liaoliao's condition with their neighbors in their village in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. However, her family soon realized that Liaoliao could interpret light. She would always face the sun when taken outside and rubbed her eye sockets when the indoor lights were turned on.
With a glimmer of hope, Liaoliao's family turned to the Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University, which had experience with cases of this kind dating back to 2007.
After an operation on November 23, Liu Zuguo, director of the Xiamen Eye Center said that at present, Liaoliao's muscles are unable to support her eyelids while certain components within her eye have not formed fully.
Therefore, the next operation will focus upon improving Liaoliao's visual recovery. Just over a hundred people worldwide are born with the condition where skin covers their eyeballs and the success rate for treatment is extremely low.
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