Woman with rare genetic disease has 'eyes like a cat'

04 March 2024 , 15:07

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Anelize was born with coloboma known as 'cat's eye syndrome' (Image: CEN)

A woman with a rare genetic disease that means she looks like she has cat eyes had told how she baffles people with her amazing looks.

Anelize Kloster, 29, from Guarapuava, Parana State, Brazil was born with Cat Eye Syndrome which makes her pupils look longer. Sufferers have a coloboma or gap in the iris that gives the pupil a stretched oval shape, like a moggie's eyes. Also known as Schmid-Fraccaro syndrome it is said to affect one in 100,000 people.

Anelize says that her abnormality was noticed as soon as she was born by the doctor who delivered her. She told local media: "My mother told me that when I was born, he said, 'Look, a kitten was born!'." Anelize said that the syndrome affected 30 per cent of her vision in her right eye, but did not harm her ability to see.

She said that more common visual disorders, such as myopia and astigmatism cause her sight problems and she wears prescription glasses when needed. Anelize said: "I was born seeing and seeing well! I can say that I see normally, because I don't know how people see, but in my vision, I believe I see like everyone else."

Anelize Kloster as a child (CEN)

And she said she has grown used to other people's curiosity about her cat-like appearance. Aniza said: "In the beginning, it always generated uproar, whether at school, at college... Always. But then, as time goes by and living with me, it becomes normal. I say I was born this way, people. And God wanted it this way, let's respect God's work of art."

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But now, on social media, Anelize said she constantly has to fend off questions about if she has tattooed her eyes or is wearing special contact lenses. One Instagram user 'borochii' wrote: "Girl, can you see normally? Or is your vision affected? Genuine question, why did I find your eyes very different?" And 'lopezgabii' said: "I think it's a filter from another app, look before the transformation on the right eye, it becomes round then it thins lol."

Anelize Kloste always gets comments about her eyes (CEN)

However, Anelize responded to the comments by saying: "I love it! My eyes are super different!" She added: "Of course, today I think it's even more beautiful, right? Because we grow up, we become women and it's a differentiator." And many social media users agree with her.

One 'oliveirajuju6' said: "Oh my God, what a woman." And 'karynnasantos24' wrote: "I just need to meow now because she is so cute."

Marija Stojkoska