Ankyloblepharon

/ˌæŋkɪloʊˈblɛfərɑːn/ noun

Definition

A rare medical condition in which the upper and lower eyelids are partially or completely fused together, preventing normal blinking or eye opening.

Etymology

From Greek "ankylos" (stiff, fused) and "blepharon" (eyelid). This specialized ophthalmological term combines classical Greek roots to describe the fusion of eyelid tissues.

Kelly Says

Ankyloblepharon is one of those conditions that sounds like pure science fiction but is actually real—some people are born with their eyelids partly stuck shut, and there are documented cases dating back centuries in medical literature.

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