Judi Dench’s ten-year battle with a ‘traumatic’ vision condition has been revealed.
In 2012, Dame Judi Dench was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a degenerative eye condition causing her to lose sight.
In the most recent episode of Louis Theroux Interviews, the actress opened up about her illness. When Louis asked the iconic thespian how bad her condition is, the 87-year-old replied: “Bad. That’s bad enough. It’s bad enough that you’re hazy. You’re just a little hazy.”
“I don’t want to retire,” Dame Judi said when a journalist asked if her lack of vision made her want to step back from her career. “I’m not doing much right now because I can’t see.”
“I’ve got to teach myself a new way of learning,” Judi said when asked how she learns her lines without being able to see. I realized I needed to know where it was on the page. I’ll figure it out for myself. I’m sure I will, as long as I don’t trip over it.”
Judi’s vision has also impacted her personal life, as she explained to the Radio Times in 2021: “I can’t read the paper now, I can’t do the crossword, I can’t read a book.”
She went on to say that she was forced to stop driving in 2017.
“I stopped driving a couple of years ago,” she began, before going on to describe it as one of the most “traumatic” and “appalling” experiences of her life. “But I just know I’m going to kill someone if I get behind the wheel of a car right now,” she said.
Dame Judi also revealed that her mother has a similar condition, and she is concerned that her daughter Finty will inherit it because it is genetic. Judi also stated that Finty has regular eye exams to assess her vision.
Judi’s fear of losing her sight is overwhelming. When asked when she expected to lose her vision completely, she replied, “I don’t want to say. I’ve seen enough… You get used to it. As a result, I completely disregard it.”
It’s undeniably difficult to accept, but according to leading optometrist Dr. Nish, some things can be done to slow the progression. “Studies show that taking nutritional supplements such as Vitamin C & E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Zinc & Copper may help,” she says HELLO!. “Also, lifestyle changes such as dieting, exercising, avoiding smoking and protecting eyes from UV rays may also help.”
