BBC Clive Myrie's health battle with condition that affects millions of Brits

By Gemma Jones, Showbiz Reporter

Clive Myrie worried fans of the BBC (Image: BBC)

BBC News at Six fans were concerned for news reader Clive Myrie on Monday night's show after noticing his "droopy eye". Fans flooded social media with worries for the news presenter.

In reponse, the 60-year-old presenter quickly issued a statement to his social media account. He joked that he asked bosses about wearing an eye patch as he explained that he was simply suffering from an infection.

Taking to X/Twitter, Clive wrote: "Happy N.Year everyone and thank you all for your concern over my left eye. It’s nothing serious, just an infection.

"I did think about wearing an eye patch, but the boss said no! A bit like Long John Silver. He wasn’t having any of it! Cheers."

Now a doctor has explained that Clive's symptom is actually quite common. Dr Alasdair Scott, a science director at Selph, said drooping of the eyelid is called “ptosis” and can have a number of causes, according to SurreyLive.

The medical expert explained: "As we age, the skin and muscles around the eyes stretch and weaken causing drooping of the eyelid. Up to one in five adults over the age of 70 have some degree of ptosis. This is by far the commonest cause of ptosis."

Dr Scott added: "Anything that causes swelling around the eye – such as trauma or infection – can lead to ptosis. Common eye infections include conjunctivitis, a chalazion or stye."

In Clive's case, Dr Scott believes his droopy eye could be a combination of age-related weakness and infection, which is expected to get better as it heals.

The NHS offers advice for anyone concerned about eye issues. It suggests you should contact your GP if:

• your swollen eyelid is red, hot, painful, tender or blistered
• your eyelid droops suddenly
• you cannot open your eye or keep it open
• the pain is in your eye (not your eyelid)
• the white of your eye is very red, in part or all over
• you have eye symptoms and a headache or you feel sick or are being sick
• a newborn baby (less than 1 month old) has a sticky, red eye
• you're sensitive to light (photophobia)
• your eyesight changes – for example, you have blurred vision and see wavy flashing lights, zigzag patterns or coloured spots or lines
• you have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery, or you feel generally unwell
• you think it's an allergic reaction