15 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Suffered From Eye Disorder

Life behind the camera seems glamorous and we all wish to be like our favourite celebrities. From perfect skin to body and even life, everything appeals to us. Very few of us know that life behind the camera is often hidden. Though all of it feels natural there are filters and they also suffer from many conditions. Just like a good Botox filler can hide age, many surgeries can also hide eye problems.

In this blog, we’ll uncover the stories of 15 celebrities who have bravely dealt with various eye conditions, from glaucoma to macular degeneration. Their experiences not only highlight the importance of eye health but also serve as a reminder that everyone faces obstacles, no matter how famous they are. Prepare to be surprised and inspired by these remarkable stories of resilience and determination. Let’s look into the lives of these stars and see how they’ve overcome their visual challenges.

Mila Kunis

Celebrities live their lives under a microscope. Their adoring fans are always paying close attention to their appearance and an eye out for their every move. Kudos to Mila Kunis for keeping her eye problem a secret for years.

While it’s evident that she has heterochromia, nobody knew that she was almost blind in one eye. Mila was suffering from chronic iritis which caused partial blindness in one of her eyes. Later on, she corrected this problem by undergoing surgery. But, she could be seen sporting thick black-rimmed prescription glasses several times.

Kate Moss

Kate Moss is a living example of how you don’t have to have perfect symmetry to be a supermodel. She suffers from strabismus which is an issue with the alignment of the eyes. In one of her interviews with Harpers Bazaar, she revealed that she wasn’t always this glamorous.

As a kid, she had a lazy eye and wore an eye patch and pink glasses to correct her vision problem. Despite that, she still has wonky eyes that are nothing short of beautiful. Also, she likes to carry a couple of shades in her bag as she complains that they often go missing. Now if that seems relatable to you, feel free to check out our travel case as it makes keeping your eyewear organised and safe.

Johnny Depp

The most versatile actor of his day and age, Johnny Depp is not a stranger to eyesight problems. Some people who see him in interviews and red carpets may think that he is a fan of the tinted glasses trend. But, he has a practical reason for wearing those glasses - he has serious vision issues in his left eye.

He was born with a vision problem. As a result, he has worn prescription glasses ever since he can remember. For his iconic role of Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, he had to put his eyeglasses aside and was only able to see a few inches in front of him.

Whoopi Goldberg

In 2014, Whoopi Goldberg shared an important update on her health telling her millions of fans that she had developed glaucoma. She said that her sight had gotten worse and she also had to hire a driver as she was not able to drive on her own.

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that should not be taken lightly as it can lead to blindness if you do not treat it on time. Early detection of this problem remains the only effective cure for this disease. Thus, taking regular eye tests is important to keep a close check on your ocular health.

Get a free eye test to get your vision tested and ensure your eye health is in optimum condition.

Hugh Grant

While he may not need scuba goggles to watch a movie as he did in Notting Hill, his eyesight is quite weak and he can’t go even a day without his specs. Whether off-screen or on-screen, Hugh Grant in glasses never ceases to make us swoon.

He had Covid in February and on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’, he revealed a very unusual symptom saying his eyeballs felt about three sizes big. While I can’t say if that’s a symptom, experts believe that COVID-19 can bring some notorious and unusual changes in your vision.

If you feel like your vision has changed suddenly or your eyeballs have started to look different, consult a healthcare specialist.

Jennifer Aniston

Hollywood sweetheart Jennifer Aniston suffers from dry eye syndrome and is addicted to eye drops to keep her eyes lubricated. In an interview with the Health magazine, she said that she faces trouble reading scripts due to her dry and itchy eyes.

She has been suffering from this problem for years and admitted that she even sometimes uses eye drops 2 or 3 times an hour. If you too have dry eyes, maybe it’s your screen time playing evil. Check with an eye doctor and use blue-light-blocking glasses while working on digital screens.

The actress even collaborated with the Shire in 2016 and 2018 to spread awareness about dry eye syndrome. She was already nearsighted but now that she has developed presbyopia, she literally can’t see anything. This is why she wears glasses wherever she goes and looks amazing in every pair. Jennifer Aniston in glasses is something we never knew we all needed.

Stevie Wonder

The superstar singer-songwriter came into this world blind. He lost his eyesight to retinopathy of prematurity. It’s an eye disorder caused by abnormal retinal blood vessels. Stevie was born 6 weeks earlier than the due date and this kind of issue can occur in premature babies.

Despite the disease, Stevie Wonder became one of the most successful musicians of his time. In an interview with The Guardian, he said that he can use his imagination and write about things or places that he has heard from other people. He is a living example of how disability cannot hold you back.

Stephen Curry

Professional basketball player Stephen Curry was diagnosed with keratoconus - an eye condition where the cornea starts to thin out and bulges outwards taking the shape of a cone. This problem progresses through adolescence and early adulthood.

Later on, he underwent a medical procedure “corneal crosslinking”, that can strengthen the weakened collagen fibres of the cornea. He once told, The Athlete that although squinting has started to look normal, his corrected vision has definitely improved his game.

Bono

Bono wearing sunglasses isn’t a style thing even though it has become his signature style. Bono himself admitted he has been living with glaucoma for the past two decades. The condition makes your eyes sensitive to light and glare.

Certain glaucoma medications constrict your pupils which increases light sensitivity. Thus, wearing prescription sunglasses provides your eyes relief from harsh lights both indoors and outdoors.

Dame Judy Dench

Known for her excellent portrayal of a variety of roles on the big screen and M in the James Bond movies, Dench is learning how to cope with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD occurs due to the gradual loss of central vision as one ages. It gives birth to vision problems such as blurriness and distortion and may even lead to vision loss.

She uses vision tools and techniques such as a mobile app made specifically for people with AMD to read the news. She also hates to be labelled as the ‘National Treasure’ but that’s what she is.

David Bowie

The iconic pop star was adorned by women for his different coloured eyes one blue and one brown. His music and his eyes both made him a heartthrob. But, one can feel it's just an illusion and how is it possible? Well. Bowie had an eye disorder called anisocoria in which pupils are of different sizes.

During his teenage, he met with a fight over a girl and damaged the tiny muscles that controlled the size of his left pupil. Due to the damaged pupil, one of his eyes appeared darker than the other. Well, he might thank his friend for giving him a signature look.

Alice Eve

Different eye colours are something that many celebrities have and Alice is no way behind. Star Trek actress has one eye in blue colour and one in green. The reason behind different colours is because of a condition called heterochromia.

In one interview she said, “It’s great, I think. It’s unique, and I’m definitely a proponent of embracing individuality in life. So, if you’re born a little different, I’d say that’s a positive thing.”

She also explained that the colour is so subtle and similar that it took months for her boyfriend to actually notice the difference. Heterochromia is an eye disorder that is caused due to melanin production and it is quite rare.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams is known for her seven-time Grand Slam and very less people know that she suffers from Sjogren’s syndrome. This is an autoimmune condition that can make your eyes and mouth extremely dry. Other than this, tiredness and pain in muscles and joints are also some symptoms of this disorder.

Once Williams talked about the issue and said, “Extra-special friends that come along”. She also said that it is very difficult for her to wear contacts due to dry eyes. According to her, staying hydrated, eating healthy food and getting enough sleep helps her to perform better.

Kristen Bell

Who can forget Princess Anna in Frozen? Not us, but do you know she has a squint? Also known as strabismus or crossed eyes that means eyes point in different directions and it can happen all the time.

The actress said that it is quite evident when she is tired and one can notice that even on screen. She calls it a codeword to escape from late-night shoots.

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard is a Multi-Grammy Award-winning singer who has been blind in one eye since childhood. She is the lead singer of the band Alabama Shakes and a successful solo artist. The singer had retinoblastoma which is a type of eye cancer that starts in the retina.

It can be a genetic problem and even her older sister died from the same condition when he was just nine. After her sister’s death, her parents separated and she turned herself to music. She started singing with her sister’s guitar and learned how to play on her own.

Wrapping It Up

Vision problems can happen to anybody. It’s important that we are aware of the symptoms and have regular eye tests to diagnose these problems early. We want you to have healthy eyes and take good care of them. If you don’t want to pay for those eye appointments, book them for free with us.