Judi Dench: I'm not going blind

Oscar-winner Dame Judi Dench has insisted that she is not losing her sight.  The actress, who, like her mother, suffers from age-related macular degeneration, has admitted that she often has trouble reading scripts or seeing faces in front of her, but has now released a statement, saying it is not as bad as had been reported.
The James Bond star said: "In response to the numerous articles in the media concerning my eye condition - macular degeneration - I do not wish for this to be overblown."
The 77-year-old stated: "This condition is something that thousands and thousands of people all over the world have to contend with, it's something that I have learnt to cope with and adapt to - and it will not lead to complete blindness."
Her confession of severe sight problems caused the condition highlights the plight suffered by many older people. But sight loss is no longer an inevitable consequence of ageing, there are things people can do to protect their vision.
These include wearing the right prescription glasses or contact lenses, having regular eye tests, at least every two years, adopting a healthy lifestyle including eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables and not smoking.
Dame Judi - who is currently to be seen in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and will reprise her role as spy chief M in forthcoming Bond film Skyfall - said that the most distressing aspect of the condition is not being able to see the person she is having dinner with in a restaurant.
But she vowed not to be beaten by it, adding: "You get used to it. I've got lenses and glasses and things and very bright light helps."
She insisted she would continue working: "As long as there is a possibility of working, I'm not going to retire. If I retire, nothing will work anymore, and it's hard enough as it is."
Tweet