In Jiangxi Province, China, a 5-year-old boy tragically lost vision in his left eye after being poked in the eye by a classmate at his kindergarten. Instead of taking immediate medical action, the teacher applied lard to the wound, which reportedly led to infection and permanent blindness.
According to Chinese media reports, the incident occurred when the boy’s eye was injured by a peer. Rather than sending him to a hospital, the teacher attempted to reduce swelling by applying lard directly to the eye. The boy’s mother recounted that she was horrified when she learned that the teacher saw aqueous humor — a clear fluid in the eye crucial for nutrition and pressure regulation — leaking from her son’s eye, yet still did not seek emergency medical care.
The mother said, “The teacher watched my child’s eye fluid leaking and then applied lard to reduce swelling. It caused a full-blown infection, and my child went blind instantly.”
Following the incident, the kindergarten agreed to pay medical expenses totaling RMB 270,000 (approximately NT$1.16 million). However, the boy’s left eye remains blind, and he will require multiple surgeries, with ongoing medical costs still a concern. The local education bureau has intervened multiple times, but no full resolution has been reached, and the boy’s family has not ruled out legal action.
The case has sparked widespread outrage online, with commenters saying things like: “No amount of money can bring back a good eye,” “Which parent would accept money in exchange for their child’s sight?” and “This teacher had zero common sense.” Many expressed sympathy for the boy, describing him as permanently disabled due to the incident.
