With Luca’s screams worsening, Lowe took her to the hospital, where she was then rushed into emergency surgery. Four attempts to flush her eyes had previously failed.
A second operation uncovered a defect in the little one’s eye. A third surgery consisted of an amniotic membrane transplant—a common ocular surface reconstruction method—to encourage healing. This type of treatment is often referenced in chemical burn treatment for children and vision restoration surgery.
Lowe added: “There was a point where they thought she’d need a fourth surgery because she wasn’t opening her eyes, but we managed to encourage her to open her eyes.”
Days after being exposed to the toxic cleaning agent, Luca’s eyes became red and swollen while also covered in painful blisters and scabs—as shocking photos show.
The little girl was discharged from the hospital after 16 days. However, her sight has yet to fully return due to a permanent visual impairment caused by the detergent’s high pH exposure.
The laundry capsule is sold as Omo in Australia but is marketed in the U.K. under Persil, a brand owned by Unilever. These single-use pods have previously been involved in detergent injury lawsuits, particularly in cases involving toddlers and young children
