23 Feb – Oscar-winner and the M in "James Bond", Dame Judi Dench finally responded to the rumours regarding her possible blindness, after revealing that she is suffering from age-related macular degeneration, usually seen in people her age that she will not be losing her sight anytime soon.
According to Reuters, the 78-year-old actress said that although she had said that she encountered difficulties in reading her film scripts or seeing people sitting in front of her during dinners, she asked the press not to exaggerate her current condition.
"In response to the numerous articles in the media concerning my eye condition - macular degeneration - I do not wish for this to be overblown," said Dench.
She further explained, "This condition is something that thousands and thousands of people all over the world have to contend with. It's something that I have learnt to cope with and adapt to - and it will not lead to blindness."
There are two forms of the condition, which are dry and wet. Dry leaves the afflicted with blurry vision while wet, which is the more serious of the two, may cause blind spots.
Previously, Dench had told Daily Mirror that her condition had affected her in both eyes, although she had received treatment to prevent further damage.
"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."
Despite her eye problems, Dench said she had no plans to retire. She would be reprising her role as the head spy M, in this year's Bond film, "Skyfall", and is currently busy with promotional activities for her comedy-drama, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".
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