The 3 symptoms of common eye condition as Alan Carr admits fearing he’ll ‘lose his sight’

ALAN CARR has revealed he's "losing his sight" and needs to get a "worrying" hospital procedure.

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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The comedian had to undergo a treatment that involved a spike being inserted into his anaesthetised eye.

"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."

Alan also revealed he's got 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.

Alan's health scare occurred at Moorfields Eye Hospital where he was told he's got something wrong with his eyes - "quite a bit of pressure".

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.

"I hate the glaucoma thing, when they squirt the air in your eyes. I ad something wrong with my eyes in the cornea. I was so worried."

“He had to basically choke me because this air going into my eye was too much. At Moorfields they anaesthetised my eyeball, and then the spike came in on to the lens to see if it worked," he added.

What are the signs of an astigmatism?

The main symptoms of astigmatism 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, Specsavers 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.

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 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.

As Alan mentioned, glaucoma is typically tested for during a routine eye exam, and an optometrist can usually detect it during a standard eye test, often before any noticeable symptoms appear.

For this reason it's often referred to as the 'silent killer of vision'.

While symptoms in the most common forms of glaucoma don’t develop until the condition progresses, signs can be identified at an earlier stage, leading to important management plans coming into play which slow the progression of what can be a devastating condition.

According to Optical Express, more than half of those living with glaucoma in the UK remain undiagnosed, putting their vision at significant risk.

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If left untreated, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness. 

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.

"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," said Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director at Optical Express.

“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.”