A 30-year-old woman whose eyes constantly clamp shut for up to three days at a time has opened up about her 13-year battle.
Natalie Adler, from Melbourne, was just 17 years old when she woke to find herself with swollen eyelids.
But more than 10 years on, her illness remains a mystery, baffling doctors from around the world. And her incurable condition is so rare, it has no name.
Natalie Adler (pictured), from Melbourne, has opened up about her mysterious 13-year battle
The 30-year-old woman said her eyes constantly clamp shut for up to three days at a time
‘I don’t have an overall diagnosis,’ she told 7 News.
Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, the woman said she still has no medical explanation as to why she’s been locked in the extraordinary routine for 13 years.
‘They just developed into this random cycle where they would spasm shut for three days and then open for three days,’ she said.
‘It’s just a daily battle.’
Ms Adler has been left legally blind after she had 99 per cent of the muscles removed from her eyelids.
Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, the woman said she still has no medical explanation as to why she’s been locked in the extraordinary routine for 13 years
The woman said she gets Botox injections to help keep her eyes partly open but she still suffers blindness at least once a month.
She opened up about her husband Daniel, who has supported her through her excruciating battle.
‘He just brought me back from the brink,’ she said.
The woman said she gets Botox injections to help keep her eyes partly open but she still suffers blindness at least once a month
Speaking about the moment they got together, Daniel said Ms Adler had hid her ‘challenges’ from him during their ‘first few dates’.
‘When it all came out, I was completely water off a duck’s back. It didn’t bother me at all. Her illness doesn’t define her,’ he said.
Despite her condition, Natalie remains hopeful – as she reveals her dream of sharing her story by writing a book.
‘I never lose hope because I just can’t and that’s not the person I am,’ she said.