Claudia Winkleman's 'embarrassing' health condition she has suffered for decades

Claudia Winkleman
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman contends with a serious and lifelong health issue off screen. At 52, Claudia faces the daily challenges of an untreatable eye condition known as myopia.

It is so severe that it prevents her from reading the autocue and even leads her to "bang into walls" because her vision is so poor. Claudia, who has had the condition since birth with -15 short-sighted vision, shared the poignant revelation that she has "never really been able to see my face", describing the task of recognizing her own features as mere "guesswork".

The condition where near objects are seen clearly while distant ones appear blurry is common, but Claudia's case is particularly acute. In a candid discussion about how her vision impacts her life, including not being able to drive, on the How To Fail podcast, Claudia explained: "I've always had terrible eyesight.

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"Which is going back to the blurriness of the paintings I like and the blurriness of how I really like life to be." She added: "I've had a couple of operations since then because I was just banging into walls. But now I wear lenses or glasses or whatever."

She has also undergone laser surgery at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital, a significant procedure that involves using lasers to alter the eye's front surface to improve focus. Claudia has spoken out about the profound impact of an operation on her life and career, revealing the extent to which failing eyesight was impacting her role on ' Strictly Come Dancing '.

Recalling her struggle with vision, she told The Sun in 2021: "I can't even begin to tell you how blind I am. It's embarrassing. I can't read the autocue. My eyes have deteriorated so badly, I'm not meant to drive. I am doing the wrong job."

Following her laser eye surgery at Moorfields Hospital, Claudia described the procedure as "life-changing" and expressed her gratitude towards the hospital staff for their excellent care. Despite undergoing two eye operations to rectify her vision, the Strictly favourite admits there is still a 'fuzzy' quality to her sight.

In reflection, Claudia has sometimes embraced her -15 short sight, saying: "Everything is ish, it's just a vague idea which is how I'd like to live. I don't want to live in a perfect land. I want to live in fuzzy world."

While some individuals may be born with this condition, it can also develop over time. The NHS has listed several warning signs of myopia that can manifest in both adults and children:

  • Struggling to read words from a distance, such as reading the whiteboard at school

  • Sitting close to the TV or computer, or holding a mobile phone or tablet close to the face

  • Experiencing headaches

  • Frequently rubbing the eyes

If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's advised to book an appointment with an optician as soon as possible.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to TV screens tonight at 7.20pm on BBC One.