Tasmyn received the eye in a transplant in 2014, after a three-year wait, and has been lucky that her body has not rejected it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the operation the three years of waiting felt like nothing,\u201d Tasmyn said.<\/p>
![\"Tasmyn](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2015\/11\/IMG_7224_90135.jpg\")
<\/a>She was first diagnosed with the disease in 2011, when she was in matric.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy eye just didn\u2019t feel right, I just couldn\u2019t keep my eyes open, so I asked the teacher if I could please go home,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom took me to the optometrist; we thought I just needed glasses, but it was there we found out something was seriously wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were told to take Tasmyn to an eye specialist,\u201d said Joy Pietersen, Tasmyn\u2019s mom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe specialist tested her eyes and explained that she had Keratoconus.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family had never heard of the disease, and began to do as much research as they could.<\/p>\n
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the normally round cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape.<\/p>\n
This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye on its way to the light-sensitive retina, causing distorted vision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were told she could have got the disease in one of two ways, either a hard knock to the head or from her bloodline,\u201d explained Joy.<\/p>\n
Joy was very despondent after finding out about the Keratoconus.<\/p>\n
\u201cTasmyn was strong in her faith, it was only when a cyst in her eye burst that she realised how serious the situation was,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Though Tasmyn luckily didn\u2019t lose her sight, she described her vision as opening your eyes underwater.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see, but not clearly,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n Tasmyn had her first operation in 2012, which was a cross-linking operation in her right eye; this process was repeated just two weeks ago.<\/p>\n The cross-linking will not stop the eye from deteriorating, but it will delay it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that Tasmyn will have to have another transplant, we just don\u2019t know when,\u201d Joy said.<\/p>\n Tasmyn has not let her disease slow her down and is now a pre-school teacher.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to put eye drops in my eyes several times a day and, when my eyes have recovered from my latest operation, I will go back to wearing my hard contact lenses,\u201d Tasmyn said brightly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one can touch my eyes though, except my doctor and I.\u201d<\/p>\n Tasmyn and her mother want to raise awareness about eye diseases and conditions.<\/p>\n They encourage people to regularly have their eyes tested regularly and not to ignore warning signs.<\/p>\n Other human interest stories:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pha Real Voices share their whirlwind experience<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>