EYE OPENER
The 7 symptoms of ‘silent vision killer’ after Alan Carr suffers terrifying health scare
Plus, conditions that can cause blurry vision - from cataracts to diabetic retinopathy
ALAN CARR fears an eye condition will ruin his eyesight after having a "worrying" diagnostic test.
The 48-year-old Chatty Man host revealed a recent health scare where he was told his eyeballs need to be drained due to excessive pressure.
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"Losing my sight is the worst thing, and I can feel it getting worse," he said on his podcast, Life's A Beach.
"My eyeballs need draining - they've got too much pressure."
The comedian suggested he was being tested for glaucoma with the eye pressure test, which involves an instrument called a tonometer which may touch the surface of the eye.
Gluacoma can worsen vision but because it does not usually cause any symptoms to begin with, it is often referred to as the 'silent killer of vision'.
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Ophthalmologists said Alan's experience serves as a "wake-up call for all of us".
Speaking of his fears of glaucoma, Alan said: "I had a bit of a health scare. I went to Moorfields [eye hospital]. I've got something wrong with my eyes - quite a bit of pressure.
"I had something wrong with my eyes in the cornea. I was so worried.
"I hate the glaucoma thing, when they squirt the air in your eyes.
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"He had to basically choke me because this air going into my eye was too much.
"...They anaesthetised my eyeball, and then the spike came in on to the lens to see if it worked."
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The Interior Design Masters presenter recalled his shock when doctors told him to "relax" while a spike was brought closer to his cornea.
"They said, 'Just relax, Alan, concentrate on the spike going into your eye'. I thought, 'Excuse me? What?"' It was surreal," he said.
Alan did not confirm if his "health scare" led to a diagnosis - but he did reveal that he has astigmatism, a common eye condition that means your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football.
This means light is focused at more than one place in the eye and can result in blurry vision.
"I kept telling people I had stigmata, like the wounds of Christ. Get over yourself, Alan," he joked.
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What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss.
It's caused by a buildup of fluid in the eye that increases pressure and damages the optic nerve.
Glaucoma is typically tested for during a routine eye exam, often before any noticeable symptoms appear.
According to the NHS, very occasionally, glaucoma can develop suddenly and cause:
- Intense eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- A red eye
- A headache
- Tenderness around the eyes
- Seeing rings around lights
- Blurred vision
According to Optical Express, more than half of those living with glaucoma in the UK remain undiagnosed, putting their vision at significant risk.
If left untreated, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness.
Management plans can help slow the progression of what can be a devastating condition.
Optical Express emphasises the importance of routine eye exams every two years or more frequently for those at higher risk, such as individuals over 40, those with a family history of glaucoma, or people with other conditions like diabetes.
Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director at Optical Express, said: "Glaucoma can be serious if left untreated.
"While it’s one of the leading causes of blindness in the UK, early detection and treatment can significantly slow its progression and protect vision.
“Glaucoma doesn’t always present obvious signs, which is why regular eye tests are so important.
";A comprehensive eye exam can detect glaucoma early, often before any vision loss occurs, and allows for prompt treatment to prevent further damage.
“Alan Carr’s openness about his experiences is a wake-up call for all of us.
"Eye health is often overlooked, yet it’s vital to our overall quality of life. By prioritising regular check-ups, you can safeguard your vision and eye health, catching conditions like glaucoma before they have a lasting irreversible impact.”
What are the signs of an astigmatism?
The main symptoms of astigmatism, which Alan Carr has, are listed by Moorfields Eye Hospital as:
- Blurring and distortion of near or far-away objects
- Headaches when trying to focus
- Tired eyes
Astigmatism will be picked up during a routine eye test, said Dr Nigel Best, Optometrist.
"Your optometrist will carry out what’s called a refraction which will measure the degree of any astigmatism present," he explained.
"Based on the results, the optometrist will explain the best options to correct your astigmatism, usually glasses or contact lenses.
"If you think you may have astigmatism or another eye condition, book an appointment as soon as you can."
Astigmatism can be treated with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery.
It's very common, and most people have it in some degree in one or both eyes.
"While most astigmatism arises during childhood as part of the eyes normal development, there are several causes that may lead to the condition developing including later in life," said Dr Best.
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Causes include:
- Keratoconus: Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which your cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape, causing astigmatism and other vision issues.
- Eye surgery: Some types of eye surgery, including cataract surgery, can alter
the cornea's shape and may lead to astigmatism. - Eye injury: Trauma or injury to the eye can cause scarring or change the shape of the cornea, which can lead to astigmatism.
- Corneal scar tissue: Scarring of the cornea from infections or ulcers can distort its shape and cause astigmatism.
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What can cause blurry vision?
Blurry vision is being unable to detect finer details in objects, even if they're up close.
Causes can include benign factors, such as eye strain, side effects from medication, or foreign bodies in the eye.
But if blurry vision is progressive or suddenly becomes blurred it could indicate something more serious.
Blurred vision causes include:
- Age-related macular degeneration - a common eye condition in people over 50 that involves damage to the macular, which affects the eye's central vision.
- Glaucoma - a condition that causes loss of vision as a result of damage to the optic nerve.
- Cataracts - clouding of the lens in the eye, cataracts can result in gradual blurring and glare.
- Diabetic retinopathy - a complication of diabetes when the retina's blood vessels have been damaged.
- Corneal abrasion - result of trauma to the eye, such as a small scratch on the cornea.
- Eye infections - blurry vision can occur as a result of eye infections, like conjunctivitis
- Neurological conditions - changes in vision can be a sign of neurological conditions, such as a stroke, multiple sclerosis or a brain haemorrhage.
- Migraine - blurry vision can accompany a migraine, along with sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting.
- Refractive errors - myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism (an irregular shaped cornea), and presbyopia (an age-related vision problem) are all common but manageable blurry vision causes.
If you experience blurred vision, make an appointment to see an optometrist.
Source: Moorfields Eye Hospital
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