At 21 years old I contracted a parasite called Acanthamoeba. The parasite quickly multiplies and causes terrible pain as it eats into one's eye. At one point I had 1000s of the organisms in my eye and was on 4 different types of eye drops, one that I had to take every 15 minutes (even when "sleeping").

There's no cure for Acanthamoeba keratitis, the disease which resulted in my eye from the parasite. Drops were essentially diluted pool cleaner, which my family had to pay $100 for each bottle plus shipping from CA as insurance would not cover such "compound medications."

Following 6 months of an eye patch and only being able to go out at night (due to severe photosensitivity). I had a cornea transplant surgery at Duke University. This likely cleared the disease, but cysts of the parasites may remain deep in my eye. However, during the surgery somehow my eyelid muscles were affected, unintentionally, and following the healing process the left eyelid never lifted back up so that I could see properly.

Not only have I not been able to see (legally blind vision loss) in the left eye, but I have been living with this ptosis for over 5 years now. I haven't really complained, but to be honest the damages have deeply affected me. It has affected my face, my expressions and may get worse. I often meet people and this is the first thing that they notice about me - a "lazy" or "drooping" eyelid. It is also the thing that they remember - " the girl with the droopy eye". If I don't do anything the condition will likely get worse.

The degree of drooping required for medical insurance is unreasonably high and we have been trying without any success to get it in the US and in the UK (where I now live). Private surgery (3,500 GBP) is my only option - but we cannot afford to pay it all. It could be this summer with some luck!

I am asking for help and any help matters!

- Kayla

Info: https://www.decodedscience.org/acanthamoeba-the-parasite-that-eats-eyes/28101