After receiving free laser eye surgery in Shanghai yesterday, acid-attack victim Feng Huifang is expected to gain a fresh new outlook on life.

The 20-year-old woman will be able to throw away her glasses after the laser surgery by doctors from New Vision Eye Clinic, costing about 8,000 yuan (US$1,064).

The clinic offered to help Feng after seeing her plight on a local TV program, said Dr Wang Kangsun, director of the clinic. Five years ago, her father's girlfriend threw a cup of sulfuric acid on her, leaving Feng with burns to 20 percent of her body, mainly on the right side of her face, arm and legs.

"We decided to help her after she told reporters that she had a lot of trouble wearing glasses after her right ear was ruined in the acid attack," said Wang. He said the surgery corrected Feng's serious myopia, making it easier for her to study fashion design at Jiangxi Garments College in Shanghai.

Feng will be discharged after a week, when she can remove a patch covering her eyes, the doctor said.

As a fashion design student, Feng said good eyesight will be vital for her chosen profession. "I am so happy about the charity surgery, which gives me good vision," said Feng, who started studying in Shanghai last year.

"I went from refusing to face the tragedy to accepting it, and renovating myself to get better and better, although it's been a painful process."

This is the second free operation for Feng, from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Shanghai Liren Women's Hospital gave her free plastic surgery in August to repair her lower lip and neck function.

Lu Liulian attacked her in revenge after she discovered Feng's father was having affairs with other women and failed to pay back money she lent to him.

Lu was jailed for life but was unable to pay compensation to Feng. Feng's father also didn't honor his promise to collect money for her treatment. Though he sold his apartment for 130,000 yuan, he gave Feng only 30,000 yuan after gambling away the rest.

Feng is now living with her mother, who supported her psychologically and financially after the accident. But the supermarket saleswoman can't afford Feng's medical expenses.

(Shanghai Daily October 24, 2007)