Judi Dench: Diagnosis won't mean blindness
British actress Judi Dench poses at a photocall to announce the start of production of the 23rd film in the James Bond series; "Skyfall", in central London. (Nov. 3, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
The celebrated British actress Dame Judi Dench says she has been diagnosed with the eye condition macular degeneration, but, contrary to earlier reports, does not expect it to lead to blindness.
"In response to the numerous articles in the media concerning my eye condition -- macular degeneration -- I do not wish for this to be overblown," she said in a statement. "This condition is something that thousands and thousands of people all over the world are having to contend with. It's something that I have learnt to cope with and adapt to -- and it will not lead to blindness."
On Saturday, the Oscar-winning actress, 77, had revealed in an interview with the UK newspaper the Daily Mirror that she was diagnosed with eye ailment. "I can't read scripts any more because of the trouble with my eyes," she explained. "And so somebody comes in and reads them to me, like telling me a story. It's usually my daughter or my agent or a friend and actually I like that, because I sit there and imagine the story in my mind."
Dame Judi is best known in the United States for playing "M," the fictional head of England's secret intelligence service, in the last seven James Bond films and in the upcoming "Skyfall."
In addition to her Oscar win, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Actress for "Mrs. Brown" (1997).
The macula lutea is a small, yellow area near the center of the retina that is responsible for visual acuity of fine details.
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