Anne Hathaway Shares Her Battle with Cataract and Vision Loss

Anne Hathaway recently opened up about her decade-long struggle with a medical condition affecting her eyesight. Speaking on The New York Times’ podcast “Popcast,” the actress revealed she was “legally blind” in one eye during her 30s due to an early-onset cataract. “I was half blind for 10 years,” the 43-year-old actress shared. The condition severely impaired her vision, leading to her eventual decision to undergo corrective surgery.

It impacted my vision so much that I was basically legally blind out of my left eye and I wound up getting surgery, Hathaway expressed. After surgery, her ability to see improved dramatically, allowing her to perceive the full spectrum for the first time in years. “I’ve calmed down since then,” she remarked, noting that her vision disability had been taxing on her nervous system.

Cataracts, characterized by clouding of the eye’s lens, cause vision to appear frosty or foggy, complicating tasks like reading, nocturnal driving, or recognizing faces. The Mayo Clinic explains that clouded vision from cataracts can impact daily activities significantly. Hathaway referred to her current vision as a “miracle,” appreciating each day she experiences clear sight. I appreciate vision because I literally feel like every day I wake up and I get to see the way that I do, it’s a miracle, she said, reflecting on medical advancements that made such recovery possible.

Recently, Hathaway addressed persistent plastic surgery rumors circulating online, despite her preference for privacy. The speculation has gotten so loud that you do feel the need to just get your truth out there, she noted, expressing her desire to set the record straight. Hathaway acknowledged the distractions such rumors bring, yet she admits pondering whether addressing them was necessary. Despite evading major medical alterations, Hathaway humorously commented, I might still get a facelift someday.