In May 2023, Tia-Leigh Streamer woke up with a drooping eyelid, assuming it was hay fever. By December, she was unable to open either eye. Doctors were baffled but suspected blepharospasm, a condition causing uncontrollable eyelid spasms. “I know it’s neurological, but they [the doctors] don’t know what causes it,” Streamer 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.”

With no cure, doctors at Royal Bournemouth Hospital began Botox injections in March 2023, her only relief. “The more often I have it, at some point my body will get used to the Botox and it won’t work anymore,” she explained. When the effects wear off, she must tape or glue her eyes open or hold them with her hands. Even with Botox, bright lights can trigger her eyes to close.

The condition forced her to quit training as an accountant. “It was awful… I had everything planned out,” she said. She also struggles with daily tasks. “It’s like I’m going back to being a child again.”

She fears motherhood challenges but remains hopeful. “It’s going to be a trial-and-error year,” she said, as doctors adjust her Botox treatment to find the best balance.