Symptoms of a little-known condition have been shared after Dame Judi Dench opened up about her deteriorating health. She revealed she can no longer go out alone due to one rarely reported issue.
The actress was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) back in 2012. The condition typically blurs vision in the centre of an eye.
While the star, now 90, has discussed its detrimental impact over the years, she recently delved even further into her experience in a recent episode of the Fearless podcast. Speaking to host Trinny Woodall, 60, she said: “I’m always nervous before going to something. I’m nervous about … I don’t know. I have no idea.”
According to the Mirror, Judi then added: “Well, I have to [have assistance] now because I can’t see and I’ll walk into something and fall over.” This prompted Trinny to ask what Judi would do when asked to attend something by herself.
To which, she jokily replied: “I’m not good at that at all, nor would I be now. Fortunately I don’t have to be now…I pretend now to have no eyesight.” Judi’s heartfelt conversation comes just two years after she told the Notebook that AMD dramatically affects her ability to learn scripts.
The actress, known for her roles in James Bond, Philomena, Notes on a Scandal and various other classics, also admitted that she ‘can’t see on a film set any more’. “And I can’t see to read,” she said at the time.
“So I can’t see much. But you know you just deal with it. Get on. It’s difficult for me if I have any length of a part.” Separately, she said: “It’s the most terrible shock to the system. Ghastly. It’s terrible to be so dependent on people.”
Although AMD can make things like reading, watching TV and even facial recognition more challenging, the NHS claims that other visual symptoms may include:
- Colours seeming fainter than previously
- Hallucinations/seeing things that aren’t there
- Objects seeming smaller than usual
- Straight lines appearing wavy or crooked
It’s important to note that there are two types of AMD. While the first, being wet AMD, is treatable with regular eye injections and other types of therapy, dry AMD is incurable.
However, visual aids can be used in cases where an individual has AMD – its symptoms are not painful either. NHS guidance adds: “It does not cause total blindness. But it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult.
“Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years (‘dry AMD’), or quickly over a few weeks or months (‘wet AMD’) The exact cause is unknown. It’s been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD.”