After receiving an eye disease diagnosis in 2012, Dame Judi’s vision is now deteriorating.
In Who Do You Think You Are on Tuesday, Dame Judi Dench makes a cameo. The actress’s age-related macular degeneration, a degenerative eye condition, is causing her to lose vision even though she appears as optimistic as ever.
During a Louis Theroux Interviews episode in November 2022, the actress was open about her health. Louis asked the 88-year-old actor how bad her health was, and she answered, “Bad.”. Very bad. It’s bad enough that you’re so disoriented. The slightest bit fuzzy.
When Dame Judi was asked if her poor vision had made her want to stop working, she responded, “I don’t want to retire. I am not making much progress right now because I am blind. ”.
I’ve needed to educate myself on a new way of learning, Judi said in response to how she memorized her lines without seeing them. It has occurred to me that I need to be aware of where it is on the page. I’ll educate myself on how to do it. I’m certain I’ll do it, provided I don’t make any mistakes. ”.
Judi explained to the Radio Times in 2021 that she was unable to read a book, do a crossword puzzle, or read the newspaper due to her failing eyesight. ”.
She went on to say that in 2017, she was forced to stop driving due to a variety of circumstances.
She began by saying, “A couple of years ago, I stopped driving,” and went on to describe it as one of the most “traumatic” and “appalling” experiences of her life. But if I get behind the wheel of a car right now, I just know I’m going to kill somebody, she said.
Dame Judi also revealed that her mother has a similar condition and expressed concern for her daughter Finty because it is genetic. Finty gets regular eye exams, Judi said, so she can check her vision.
Judi finds the idea of going blind too terrifying. When asked when she thought she might lose her vision entirely, she remained silent.
“My vision is sufficient.
In time, you get used to it. I therefore ignore it. ”.
Although accepting it is undoubtedly difficult, renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Dot Nish says there are steps that can be taken to stop the progression. According to research, it may be advantageous to take nutritional supplements such as zinc, copper, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Additionally, making lifestyle adjustments like giving up smoking, exercising, watching your diet, and shielding your eyes from UV rays may be beneficial.
Dr. Dot Nish continues, “Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects one’s central vision, where their sharpest vision occurs, and results in vision loss. “This is one of the primary causes of blindness worldwide. AMD is available in both dry and wet forms. The wet form entails fluid buildup and abnormal blood vessel growth, whereas the dry form entails a buildup of drusen (i.
e.
wasting one’s eye) in the macula.
Dr. Nish informs us that macular degeneration is regrettably thought to be an irreversible eye condition. According to studies, taking dietary supplements like those containing the antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and copper as well as the vitamins C and E may slow the process. Making lifestyle changes like giving up smoking, exercising, eating better, and shielding your eyes from UV rays may also be helpful. Anti-VEGF therapies can help Wet AMD patients experience less edema, bleeding, and aberrant blood vessels, but they cannot restore any vision that has already been lost.
