At Orbis, we believe no one should lose their sight to conditions that can be treated or prevented. These stories show that eye problems can affect anyone, but they also remind us how powerful awareness can be.
Behind the Spotlight: 10 Celebrities Living with Eye Conditions
When a celebrity shares their struggles, it can shine a light on issues many of us quietly face. Eye conditions can be obvious or hidden, but they affect millions of people across the globe, including those in the public eye.
Honourable Mention: Luke Littler - Strabismus
Darts star Luke Littler was born with strabismus, a condition where the eyes do not align properly. When he was four years old, he underwent surgery to correct the position of his eyes by adjusting the eye muscles.
Now a back-to-back World Darts Champion, Littler has spoken about how important the operation was in, particularly in a sport where clear vision, depth perception and coordination are essential. His story highlights how early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions can play a vital role in supporting confidence, performance and long-term success.
1. Missy Elliott – Graves’ Disease and Vision Problems
The Grammy-winning artist has spoken openly about her thyroid condition, which caused blurred vision and light sensitivity. Her honesty helped raise awareness about how systemic health can impact the eyes.
2. Bono – Glaucoma for Over 20 Years
U2’s frontman wears tinted glasses not for fashion, but to manage his glaucoma. By speaking out, Bono helped break stigma around this silent thief of sight.
Once facing blindness from glaucoma, 19-year-old Duc from Vietnam now lives pain-free after life-changing treatment with Orbis.
3. Mila Kunis – Blind in One Eye
Actress Mila Kunis lived with chronic iritis, leaving her blind in one eye for years before undergoing surgery. Her story is a powerful reminder that sight loss isn’t always visible.
4. Tiger Woods – Laser Eye Surgery
The golf legend once struggled with severe near-sightedness. Laser eye surgery changed his game, literally, showing the impact that vision correction can have on quality of life.
5. Kristen Bell – Lazy Eye (Strabismus)
The actress has openly joked about her “wonky eye,” helping normalise a condition often found in childhood. Left untreated, strabismus can lead to permanent vision loss.
Bullied and in tears from strabismus, nine-year-old Netsanet from Ethiopia now smiles with confidence after life-changing surgery.
6. Johnny Depp – Blind in One Eye Since Birth
Depp has been blind in his left eye and near-sighted in the other since childhood. He’s used his platform to show how people adapt and thrive, even with limited vision.
7. Andrea Bocelli – Blind Since Age 12
After an accident worsened his congenital glaucoma, Bocelli lost his sight completely. His voice inspires millions, proving that blindness doesn’t limit talent or success.
8. Stevie Wonder – Blind Since Infancy
Born prematurely, Stevie Wonder lost his sight due to retinopathy of prematurity. He is now a global icon, showing the world that blindness is no barrier to brilliance.
Every donation helps fund sight-saving surgeries, training, and tools in places where the need is greatest.
At just 17 days old, Baby Gabriel’s sight was saved from retinopathy of prematurity thanks to surgery at an Orbis-partnered hospital.
9. Ray Charles – Blind From Glaucoma at Age 7
Charles lost his sight to untreated glaucoma, a condition still stealing vision today. His story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when people don’t have access to basic eye care.
10. Thom Yorke – Ptosis (Drooping Eyelid)
The Radiohead frontman was born with a paralysed eye and underwent multiple surgeries. Yorke’s story reminds us that eye conditions are often lifelong journeys, especially for children in low-resource settings.
Honourable Mention: Dame Judi Dench – Living With Amd
In a recent ITV interview, Dame Judi Dench revealed that she is now living with serious vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). “I can’t recognise anybody now… I can’t see the television; I can’t see to read,” she said.
AMD is the most common cause of severe sight loss in people aged 50 and older. Over time, it can make everyday tasks, like recognising faces or reading small print, very difficult.
Although there is no cure, treatment can often slow its progression, and visual aids can help people adapt. But only if patients can access eye care. That’s why Orbis works worldwide to make sight-saving services available for everyone.
Ibrahim, 15, from Ghana, lived with ptosis that affected his vision — until Orbis provided the surgery he needed. Now, with clear sight, he’s chasing his dream of becoming a goalkeeper.
Why These Stories Matter
Eye conditions are global: they don’t care about fame or fortune. And, in many parts of the world, people don’t have access to even basic eye care, leading to preventable blindness.
At Orbis, we train eye care teams, equip hospitals, and reach remote communities with sight-saving treatment.
Together, we can help more people see a brighter future.
