Dame Judi Dench's Vision Loss Prevents Her from Watching TV and Theatre
Dame Judi Dench has shared that her eyesight has worsened so much that she can no longer watch television or stage performances. The 90-year-old actress suffers from macular degeneration, a leading cause of permanent central vision loss in people over 50.
Impact on Daily Life and Public Appearances
At the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, where she serves as patron, Dench said:
“I can't see any more. When I go to the theatre, I can't see. Hopeless.”
She also mentioned her difficulty watching television, admitting she couldn’t see her friend Dame Celia Imrie on the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors series but still enjoyed hearing about the events:
“Somebody told me what was happening. I want to hear the dirt that went on.”
Background and Recent Updates
Dame Judi first revealed her condition in 2012. In January, she gave a sober update during an episode of Trinny Woodall’s Fearless podcast, explaining the challenges she now faces:
“Somebody will always be with me. I have to now because I can’t see and I will walk into something or fall over.
I’m always nervous before going to something.
I have no idea why… I’m not good at being on my own at all, nor would I be now. And fortunately, I don’t have to now because I pretend to have no eyesight.”
Facts about Macular Degeneration
- Causes rapid and permanent central vision loss.
- Top cause of vision loss in people aged over 50.
Author's summary: Dame Judi Dench's severe macular degeneration has drastically reduced her eyesight, preventing her from enjoying theatre and TV, highlighting the profound effects of this condition on her daily life.