Dame Judi Dench Is Going Blind

Dame Judi Dench tells The Mirror that she's been diagnosed with macular degeneration, a condition that can cause blindness, and is trying to keep her sight. Before she was diagnosed, Judi's eyesight was already starting to go and she needed help reading scripts. It's gotten much worse. Judi's daughter has to read her scripts and she can barely see faces right in front of her. This might be okay if most of the faces in front of her belonged to a Kardashian, but that's not the case for Judi and so day-to-day life has gotten a little harder. Dame Judi explained it like this to The Mirror during an interview:

“I’ve got what my ma had, macular degeneration, which you get when you get old. I had wet in one eye and dry in the other and they had to do these injections and I think it’s arrested it. I hope so.

I can’t see your face at all now, but I can see your outline. I can see over there [she indicates the far side of the room, some 15ft away]. The most distressing thing is in a restaurant in the evening I can’t see the person I’m having dinner with. Actually, what I miss are people corpsing on stage.

I know there might be something going on but sometimes I can’t see it and that infuriates me as I think I’m really missing out on something.”

You get used to it. I’ve got lenses and glasses and things and very bright light helps. I can do a crossword if it’s bright sunshine but if a cloud comes out the next minute I can’t see anything.”

Judi misses reading books, but she's going to buy a digital book reader to make the words bigger. Judi also waves away any talk of her retiring and she plans to keep acting for as long as possible.

NOT DAME JUDI! You know, but with or without her eyesight, Dame Judi can still out act most of the young hos out there. Can't somebody donate their eyeballs to Dame Judi? That sentence was mostly directed at White Oprah, because it's not like she ever uses hers to look in the mirror or to see how much she's fucked up her daughters. WELL, it's Dame Judi we're talking about. She's an international treasure.

Posted by: Michael K

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Submitted by christine the hoff on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:59pm.

Terrible. prayers for her strength.
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I have never loved life so much.

Submitted by TimC on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:57pm.

Submitted by Terri on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:51pm.
Poor Dame Judi....God bless her. I wish her well and hope European advances can help her faster than dealing the American bureaucracy.

The irony of not being able to see Daniel Craig when working is noted.
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I don't follow. Is this the Alanis Morrisette version of "irony" that really means "misfortune"? Or are you trying to suggest this is masturbation induced blindness?

Submitted by SANS FARDS on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:37pm.

Aw man...sucks to hear that. I am sure she will handle this with class and grace.

LOL @ the Daniel Craig comment, even though I don't agree ;)

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Do. Not. Want.

Submitted by babybunny on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:37pm.

Good actress Bond movies would be nothing without her, my prayers are with you

Submitted by Nanners on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:36pm.

Good on her for saying "fuck blindness" and doing what she wants.

*said the girl who can barely get off the couch*
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What kind of fuckery is this?

Submitted by guest on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:34pm.

Sorry to read this!! My bgf was diagnosed with this years ago when a blood vessel busted in her eye. She has like a perma black spot in her line of vision but so far that's it.

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Submitted by DirtyWhoreMouth on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 9:32am.
It's ok to be a redneck by the way.. just don't yell git 'er done because we all hate that.

Submitted by Alix on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:33pm.

This news SUCKS.
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This episode brought to you by the letter SHUTUP.

Submitted by joanne on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:32pm.

Good luck to this very talented woman.

Submitted by BaconSlut on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:31pm.

My dad has the wet variety in one eye. He undergoes periodic injections as well, and so far they have proven to be helpful. Hopefully the same will be true for Judi!
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"Uh, hello, room service? I'd like some bacon, a couple of Cokes, and a bunch of whores." -Butthead, of Beavis and Butthead

Submitted by Datura on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:28pm.

Submitted by ritzyroxie on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:51pm.
Submitted by beakers bitch on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:50pm.

Rick Santorum, of course!

http://spreadingsantorum.com/
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I bloody love Dan Savage for starting this campaign. I plan to do lots of santorum spreading if he actually gets the nomination.

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Masturbation is not a GD game of Clue, there is no reason to head to the broom closet with a rope and a lead pipe. –michelleb

Submitted by Hotmami on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:25pm.

This is really sad.

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Time cast a spell on you but
You won't forget me
I know I could have loved you but
You would not let me
-Fleetwood Mac

Submitted by Ding_Dong on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:25pm.

Very sad, but true. She can still out act bitch, blind or not.

Submitted by beakers bitch on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:23pm.

Submitted by ritzyroxie on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:51pm.
Submitted by beakers bitch on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:50pm.

Rick Santorum, of course!

http://spreadingsantorum.com/

LOL! Yes, especially him.

Submitted by Terri on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:21pm.

Poor Dame Judi....God bless her. I wish her well and hope European advances can help her faster than dealing the American bureaucracy.

The irony of not being able to see Daniel Craig when working is noted.

Submitted by ritzyroxie on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:21pm.

Submitted by beakers bitch on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:50pm.

Rick Santorum, of course!

http://spreadingsantorum.com/

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A beauty that makes abuelitas pray for our sinful souls is my kind of beauty. -MK 9/12/11

YAAAAAAASS! -Sage Khia

Submitted by little_rascal on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:21pm.

Submitted by Deb on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:30pm.

Cheers, IG! Yes, therapy and a drug that makes you lose track of time too. I haven't picked up a brush since last fall. I need to get my ass back up into the studio!
At the same time, speaking of vision, I would never get Lasik. I'm very near-sighted, a bit far-sighted, and have astigmatism. Yet, I like to remove my glasses when I start a painting so that I don't focus too much on details too early. I call it my "Monet-vision". ;)

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Deb, I'm also very near-sighted, very far-sighted, have astigmatism and also "floaters" (because of the detached retina). And every year it gets worse and worse. :o(

Submitted by fleawatch on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:21pm.

Hopefully, when the lights go out, she doesnt screech like a maimed alley cat with his nut sack caught on a barbed wire fence behind a greek diner.....like stevie wonder......

Submitted by beakers bitch on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:20pm.

Submitted by ritzyroxie on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:47pm.
Ugh, this is so unfair. Why not Blohan or Wonky or Frothy?

I agree! Btw, who's Frothy?

Submitted by Hysteria on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:17pm.

If I couldn't watch tv, I would go insane.

You'd think there'd be more progress in this area. Why not an eyeball transplant?

Sorry, Dame Judi. Hope it can be staved off as long as possible.
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Submitted by ritzyroxie on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:17pm.

Ugh, this is so unfair. Why not Blohan or Wonky or Frothy?

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A beauty that makes abuelitas pray for our sinful souls is my kind of beauty. -MK 9/12/11

YAAAAAAASS! -Sage Khia

Submitted by little_rascal on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:16pm.

I love Judi Dench so much! Just watched BBC's "Love in the cold climate" with her.
Damn, medicine is advancing by leaps and bounds, can't they do some kind of treatment or surgery to help her restore her eyesight at least partially?

Submitted by squiggles on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:13pm.

I imagine being very lonely if I were blind. If I had to pick between being blind or totally hearing impaired, I'd choose the latter. I feel like there's more that can be done in terms of improving one's hearing and communication. Sorry if this "would you rather" comes across as insensitive but it's something I've thought about on more than one occasion.

Submitted by Datura on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:12pm.

This is terrible. Poor Judy.

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Masturbation is not a GD game of Clue, there is no reason to head to the broom closet with a rope and a lead pipe. –michelleb

Submitted by Bo on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:11pm.

My mother got hit in the head on a board falling in her garage when she was 75. Then macular degeneration set in.

Not funny when you are still living the high life and still driving. She lived to be 95.

Submitted by islandgirl on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:06pm.

Submitted by Deb on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:30pm.
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Cheaper than a shrink any day of the week! Sounds like you and I have the same vision issues too. I'm too afraid to get Lasik, but talk to me in a few years!

Submitted by WithinReason... on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:01pm.

Poor Judi! Major sads! But she a tough lady, with the right attitude!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
"What is that strange clear liquid dripping out of my eye?"MK

Submitted by Deb on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 2:00pm.

"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson

Submitted by islandgirl on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:56pm.

Deb, it's like therapy. :))

Submitted by Deb on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:55pm.

Submitted by islandgirl on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 3:20pm.

Very sad. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose one's sight--- I paint and if I couldn't do it anymore I'd probably go crazy.
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IG, I'm a painter too. I feel the same way. I should have KNOWN you are an artist!
I hope Dame Judi can get improvement with treatment. Her condition sounds awful. Poor woman.

"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson

Submitted by Hekki on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:54pm.

That's awful. They can put a man on the moon but that can't fix that?

Submitted by Hockey fan on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:54pm.

This gives me the sads, like hen I heard Gordie Howe has Alzheimers and is not doing well at all. These are national treasures, people!! Find cures for this shit!!!

Meanhile, back to the Bobbaaaayy B dramz...ugh.

Submitted by Gardening Girl on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:54pm.

Oh god no!!!!!

Submitted by islandgirl on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:50pm.

Very sad. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose one's sight--- I paint and if I couldn't do it anymore I'd probably go crazy.

Submitted by TexnDoc on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:49pm.

"Corpsing is a British theatrical slang term used to describe when an actor unintentionally breaks character during a scene by laughing or by causing another cast member to laugh. A BBC TV programme on 18 November 2006 stated that the term "corpsing" originated when a living actor played a corpse on stage; there was sometimes a temptation to try to make that actor laugh."

I never knew. Get well, Dame Judy.

Submitted by bitchSpray on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:49pm.

she sounds strong when she speaks about it but still...

anyways, don't you feel that the world has been majorly fucked up lately? with all the deaths, sad news, etc...?

Submitted by Uncle Brain-fart on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:47pm.

Thats some sad shit. But kuddos to her positive attitude.

Well, aren't you just the cosmopolitan Queen Bee of Cuntsville? No, I'm sorry, of "Cuntropolis". Please excuse us in all of our inbred grandpa fucking glory. Karen Flatts, 09/21/11