Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has revealed how he was diagnosed with glaucoma after a routine checkup at the opticians.
The beloved TV chef – best known for starring on the BBC One cookery show – was informed he was showing early signs of the disease by an optometrist earlier this year. The NHS defines condition as increased pressure within the eyeball which can cause vision loss and blindness if left untreated.
Luckily, the 66-year-old's worrying symptoms were detected early after he had a scan. Now, the cook has been prescribed eye drops to prevent the condition from progressing.
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Months later, the TV star has shared his gratitude over the medical professionals who discovered his invisible condition before it could progress any further. His update comes months after Dave confirmed he was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified cancer.
Speaking to the Express.co.uk, he gushed: “I was so relieved and thankful that it had been detected because it meant I could continue my career, doing what I love most, being able to work alongside my best friend. But, more importantly, being able to see my children’s faces.”
Dave also emphasised the importance of regular check-ups as he reflected on the “scary thought” that he “could be completely blind” if he hadn’t attended the appointment. He added: “As many as half of people with glaucoma are undiagnosed.”
The Barrow-in-Furness native is now a regular at Specsavers and swears by his medicated eyedrops. He reassured fans his prescriptive drops are continuing to keep his eye pressure stable and are protecting him from sight loss.
Since he was diagnosed, Dave has partnered with the British multinational optical retail chain, industry experts and Labour MP Marsha De Cordova to demand policy change and the implementation of a National Eye Health Strategy in England. But this isn’t the first time the star has talked openly about his glaucoma.
Back in 2021, the TV icon revealed he had initially attributed his symptoms to drinking to heavily the previous evening. Speaking to The Mirror, Dave said he responded to his optician’s suggestion with denial.
He told the medical professional: “’I had a bit of a night last night, so I've probably just had a bad hangover.’ But she took no notice and referred me to my GP who made a hospital appointment. And she’d been right, the first symptoms of glaucoma were setting in.”
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The TV star admitted that the news left him “devastated” but also grateful the condition had been discovered sooner rather than later. He went on: “If it hadn’t been spotted so early the result could have been catastrophic.
“As a chef my sense of taste and smell are extremely important. But all of the senses, sight is the one I'd fear losing most.”
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