Trachoma is a chronic bacterial eye infection that causes severe irritation of the eyelids and conjunctiva. People who suffer from it often describe the sensation as if there are grains of sand in their eyes, leading to itching, redness, and pain. Over time, trachoma can cause scarring on the inner eyelid, leading to inward-turning eyelashes (trichiasis), which scratch the surface of the eye. If left untreated, this can result in blindness.

My father tilts his head toward the sunlight streaming into his room.

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency that can lead to vision loss if not treated promptly. People who experience it often describe the symptoms as follows:

- Seeing flashes of light, even in the dark.
- Noticing floating specks or "floaters" moving across their field of vision.
- A sensation of a dark curtain or shadow spreading over part of their vision.
- Blurred or gradually lost vision in a specific area of the eye.
- A feeling of distortion or waviness in vision, as if objects appear unstable or warped.

Retinal detachment itself is not painful, but the sudden or progressive vision loss can be frightening.

My mother and her friend Nouria sit in the courtyard of her home in Zuwara, both smiling as they share coffee and stories.

A photo of the window of our home in Tripoli, with a piece of fabric hanging from it. This was a sign my mother would use to signal the neighbors in the opposite building to come visit her during the first year of her marriage, before we had a phone in our home.

My father is asleep between my brother's feet, while my brother gently massages his head.

The burnt kitchen light, I didn’t notice it until days after it was burned.

My father is standing in our neighborhood, after finishing his cigarette, enjoying the sunlight.

A pile of trash placed by our neighbor in the spot where my father has been standing every morning for years. Moments before the photo was taken, my father tripped over it.

A close-up shot of a piece of foam that my aunt placed on her cactus plants to protect my mother from getting hurt during her morning walk in the garden.

My mother and aunt while preparing a cake. My mother playfully places her hands over her aunt's eyes, challenging her to make the dish without relying on sight.

My mother holding a turtle in her hands. Gently, with her hands, she tries to discover the shape of its face.

My father and his uncle from his medical trip to Spain.

My father is sitting on his bed with his loyal cat, Lucy, as they both explore the new chessboard designed for the blind.

Mama and Baba are close together. She is sitting with a cup of tea in her hand, while he leans beside her, his head tilted toward her, and his hand resting on his head.

A photo of my brother and father walking outside the neighborhood.

A photo of the jerseys my brother wore while playing for Al-Ahly Club during his childhood. My father kept them in his closet. Now, my brother is studying at university.

The sidewalks of this land bear witness to war, to the exclusion of its people, and to the successive governments' neglect of the rights of the blind. These streets hold the untold stories of resilience and forgotten voices. 

My mother and I from inside our home.

A close-up photo of my mother's eye – it has changed significantly from its usual shape after she underwent surgery to remove it due to complications from high eye pressure.

A photo of my aunt during sunset, where she is looking towards the horizon from the roof of the house.

A photo of an expressive painting featuring an eye and English letters in different sizes, at the Eye Hospital in Tripoli.