Best known for presenting ITV's The Chase and BBC's Gladiators, Bradley Walsh has spoken about a condition which often leaves him with red and swollen eyes. The celebrity quiz show host will eventually need to go under the knife to correct the problem.
During an interview in 2021, he said: "People don't realise I have seriously bad blepharitis. I have to take one pill a day for it or I really struggle.
"I am going to need my eyes operated on at some point to sort it out. So many times, people have commented on how I look. But they don’t realise. If I take medication, though, I'm fine."
According to the NHS, blepharitis causes swollen, itchy eyelids. It can also cause crusty dandruff-like flakes on your eyelashes, as per the National Eye Institute's website.
A GP might suggest using an antibiotic cream or ointment that you rub on your eyelid if your blepharitis does not clear up after cleaning your eyelids regularly. If blepharitis has caused other problems, such as a lump of fluid under the skin (cyst), antibiotic eyedrops or tablets may be recommended.
Image:
ITV)Symptoms of blepharitis to look out for include:
- sore eyelids
- itchy eyes
- a gritty feeling in the eyes
- flakes or crusts around the roots of the eyelashes
- eyelids sticking together in the morning when you wake up
Most of the time, blepharitis happens because you have too much bacteria on your eyelids at the base of your eyelashes. Having bacteria on your skin is normal, but too much bacteria can cause problems.
You can also get blepharitis if the oil glands in your eyelids get clogged or irritated. While not a life-threatening situation, the condition can escalate to dry eye syndrome, cyst formation and even conjunctivitis.
Image:
BBC/Thames/Matt Frost)Blepharitis usually doesn’t go away completely. You’ll need to follow a routine for cleaning your eyelids for the rest of your life to keep it under control.
On Boxing Day, Bradley will be back on TV screens hosting a festive special of the classic game show Blankety Blank at 9pm on BBC One. He'll be joined by celebrity guests Jane McDonald, Oti Mabuse, Joel Dommett, Jonathan Ross, Sara Pascoe and The Vivienne.
Fans of the 64-year-old can also catch him on ITV for a Christmas special of The Chase. It aired first on December 25 and featured actor Tony Maudsley, Olympic champion Bryony Page, comedian Kerry Godliman and TV presenter Alexander Armstrong.
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