A woman from Weifang, Shandong Province, China, experienced a shocking and painful ordeal after a routine cosmetic procedure went horribly wrong. Ms. Zhang, who sought double eyelid surgery three years ago, found herself in a nightmare when the doctor mistakenly sewed her eyeball and the corner of her eye together during the operation.

Ms. Zhang, who spent 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,200) on the surgery at a local beauty salon in 2021, initially wanted to enhance her appearance. The doctor suggested that she widen the outer corners of her eyes as part of the procedure. However, during the stitching process, she felt severe discomfort in her eye. After the stitches were removed, she discovered that her eyeball was unnaturally connected to the corner of her eye.

When she confronted the surgeon, he reassured her, saying, “It’s okay, I’ll just cut it open for you.” Unfortunately, the problem persisted. After a few days, the tissues fused together again, this time even more extensively, severely restricting the movement of her eyeball.

Ms. Zhang’s attempts to seek compensation and correction from the hospital were met with frustration. Initially, she requested 30,000 yuan to cover corrective surgery costs at a more reputable hospital in another province. However, the hospital refused and offered only 10,000 yuan, which she claimed was insufficient even for travel expenses to Shanghai. The hospital then delayed payment for three years.

Despite undergoing a follow-up surgery to correct the issue, the procedure was unsuccessful. The tissues in Ms. Zhang’s eye were re-fused, leading to further complications such as inflammation and limited eye movement. Her vision remains blurred, and she continues to struggle with both the physical and emotional aftermath of the surgery, including significant hair loss and depression. As of now, she has not been able to afford the necessary corrective surgery at a more reputable hospital.

Ms. Zhang suffers from blurred vision and constant discomfort, relying on eye drops for minimal relief. The physical and emotional toll has been significant, leaving her fearful of moving her eyeballs and reluctant to leave her home. The distress has also led to severe hair loss.

The incident gained widespread attention online, with many netizens expressing their shock and horror. Comments ranged from empathetic responses like, “I felt the pain just reading about it,” to outraged remarks questioning the hospital’s accountability. Some even warned about the dangers of undergoing cosmetic procedures at non-professional establishments.

Despite the public outcry, the plastic surgery clinic involved has yet to respond to the allegations.