Ten stars who don't let vision problems slow them down
Being diagnosed with a serious eye condition can be a daunting experience. But you may find comfort in knowing that you're not alone. You might even share the same condition as a famous actor, recording artist or TV host. Here's a list of ten celebrities who have dealt with chronic eye diseases and conditions.
Brittany Howard
Brittany Howard, lead singer of soul-rock band Alabama Shakes, overcame the eye cancer, retinoblastoma. She became blind in one eye due to having the disease as a child. In 2016, her band scored three GRAMMYs, winning Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.
Mila Kunis
Popularly known for her role on the Emmy-award winning television series That '70's Show and many box office hits, actress Mila Kunis revealed to Cosmopolitan in 2011 that she was blind in one eye for many years due to chronic iritis.
Missy Elliot
Grammy award-winning musician Missy Elliot revealed in 2011 that she had been struggling with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to the overactivity of the thyroid gland. This condition affected her in many ways, including her eyes. When Graves' disease affects the eye, it's known as thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, which can cause the eye to protrude or bulge. Elliot's condition improved with therapy and treatment and she continues to lead an active life.
John Goodman
Academy Award winning actor John Goodman mentioned in a 2013 interview that he was taking time off to take care of his health, including undergoing surgery to treat his cataracts. This procedure involves removing the eye's natural lens – which has become clouded – and replacing it with a clear artificial lens implant (called an intraocular lens or IOL).
Bono
Lead singer of the band U2, Bono announced he had glaucoma in 2014 and that he has been dealing with the condition for many years. He serves as a great example of how many people with glaucoma can keep their sight and still lead very active lives with treatment.
4 Things You Can Learn About Glaucoma from Bono
Dame Judi Dench
Known widely for her role as M in the James Bond films, Academy Award-winning actress Dame Judi Dench revealed that she has age-related macular degeneration. Although her vision has limited her in some capacity, Dench has not allowed the disease to slow her down and continues to appear in films.
Apl.de.ap (Black Eyed Peas)
As a member of the Grammy Award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas, Apl.de.ap underwent surgery to correct his long-time vision impairment known as nystagmus. His vision declined so much that he had trouble making out faces. After having the procedure to correct his eyesight, Apl.de.ap's vision improved. "I can actually see people from a distance now," he said.
Roseanne Barr
Best known for the hit comedy show Roseanne, Roseanne Barr recently announced that she has not one, but two chronic eye diseases. Barr said she had been diagnosed with both glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Living with Two or More Eye Diseases
Larry King
One of the most notable figures in television, award-winning talk show host Larry King underwent surgery to treat cataracts in 2009. Upon his retirement from CNN, King continues to write and appear on television.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder, one of the most famous musicians of our time, was born blind due to a condition called retinopathy of prematurity – an eye disease that occurs in a small percentage of premature babies where abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina. Despite the disease, Wonder has persevered. In a big way. Now 65, the musician has garnered 25 Grammy Awards, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and continues to make strides in his career. In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded him with the prestigious Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.