June Brown, EastEnders actress, loses sight

EastEnders veteran June Brown said she could no longer recognize her friends because she was treating macular degeneration at age 92.

The actress, who plays Dot Cotton in the BBC One show, says she's been living with this disease for 10 years.

Vision loss is common and can affect people between 50 and 60 years old first.

Addressing the Daily Mirror, Ms. Brown said that she had no central vision and that she could no longer respond to fan mail.

"I have not been driving for years and I can not really go out because of my sight," said the actress.

Brown has been playing in EastEnders since 1985 and revealed in 2018 that it would be his last year in the series.

The actress said her condition worsened despite an eye operation in 2017.

"I never go to soap rewards or anything like that." she says. "I do not recognize the people I know and they would think that I flout them.

"Just pray for your health and your strength, your hearing and your sight, as well as for your active mind," she added.

What is macular degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that usually begins in people aged 50 to 60 years.

While this does not cause total blindness, it can make everyday activities such as reading, watching TV and recognizing faces very difficult and can worsen without treatment.

Symptoms may include seeing wavy or crooked straight lines, objects that look smaller than normal, and seeing missing objects.

The exact cause of macular degeneration is unknown, but it has been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, overweight, and family history of the disease.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), dry AMD, and wet AMD.

There is no cure for dry AMD, but visual aids can help with daily life. People diagnosed with wet AMD may require regular eye injections.