Girl, 12, Gets Life-Changing Eye Procedure Thanks To Generosity Of Strangers

BEVERLY HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A 12-year-old girl has the ability to see thanks to the generosity of strangers.

Nicey Richard, of the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia, suffered from a continuous deterioration of her corneas called keratoconus.

"Sometimes I have to put it close to my eye if it's small. If it's big, I don't have to bring it close," said Nicey.

Diana Flory, who was on a church mission in St. Lucia, met the young girl and noticed she had trouble seeing.

"She's always been a very sweet, quiet child, but a happy one. That's not what I'm feeling now from her," said Flory.

Wanting to help, Flory came across Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler.

After a fundraising effort and an anonymous donation, Nicey and her father were flown to Los Angeles for a life-changing surgery.

Dr. Boxer Wachler inserted a lens into Nicey's eyes to correct her vision. He then used a non-invasive treatment he invented called Holcomb C3-R to strengthen her corneas.

The entire procedure took less than an hour.

When it was done, everyone could notice the difference.

Nicey will still have to protect her eyes from the sun and any harsh conditions, but she should be able to go back to enjoying a normal life.