Harlequin Ichthyosis, how do they fix their eyes?

Question

I'm doing a project for apbio on harlequin ichthyosis and I was wondering, if they survive long enough like Lucy Betts(18yrs old), how do they fix their eyes? They're usually coagulated with blood and are averted. I'm trying to expand on this topic.

thank you for help (:

picture:

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7357/harley1edited8ag.jpg

Answer 1

In the image it appears there is severe swelling of the inner surface of the eyelids, the palpebral conjunctiva. I think what you are seeing is very inflamed conjunctival tissue. When the inflamation subsides with treatment, the eyes are reasonably normal. The lids appear abnormally shaped, however, and affected children cannot open their eyes very wide.

In 34 years of practice, I saw only one case and that not as severe as the infant in the picture. She improved, but her skin remained very thick and rough. A most unfortunate condition.

Answer 2

Harlequin Ichthyosis Adult