Qandygul has been sightless since she was an infant and Dr. Baraki is uncertain whether or not the neural pathways that should have developed during her early childhood will know how to process the light that will soon pass through her optic nerves.  The doctor says there is a possibility that the operation will only lead to a different blindness-an all-white, incomprehensible blur, as opposed to the current black cloud.  It will be a matter of months after the operation before Dr. Baraki knows if Qandygul has retained any semblance of normal vision.