HK star Anita Lee's half-year blindness - High myopia a key risk factor for retinal holes

After years of living in Canada, Hong Kong actress Anita Lee Yuen-wah recently revealed during a YouTube live stream that she experienced blindness in her left eye for nearly half a year, detailing a frightening ordeal with a "retinal hole." An ophthalmologist has since explained the warning signs, causes, and treatments for retinal holes, noting that people with nearsightedness beyond a certain level are more susceptible, potentially risking permanent vision damage.

Ignoring Floaters and Flashes: Anita Lee's Half-Year of Blindness

In a recent personal YouTube live stream, Lee shared that two years ago, she began experiencing "floaters" – dark spots drifting across her field of vision – in her left eye. She initially attributed it to fatigue. As the symptoms worsened, she started experiencing occasional "flashes" of light in the corner of her eye, describing them as a sudden "flicker," yet she still failed to address the problem seriously. 

Later, a "grey barrier" gradually appeared in her visual field. Despite her vision becoming increasingly blurry, she mistakenly continued to blame fatigue, missing the optimal window for early treatment.

She recounted waking up one day to discover she couldn't see out of her left eye; her vision was replaced by a deep grey hue, and no amount of blinking or rinsing could restore it. After visiting the emergency room, she was diagnosed with a "retinal hole," which, if worsened, could lead to permanent blindness. More distressingly, she revealed that a doctor had initially misdiagnosed her with an "eye cold," delaying proper treatment for nearly half a year. 

Describing her vision during the blindness period, she said, "a black circle blocked the center of my sight," forcing her to rely on peripheral vision to make out objects. She persevered in filming YouTube videos during this time, describing it as a deeply painful experience. After six months of treatment and rest, her vision gradually returned from the center outward, "like a curtain being pulled open." This crisis made her fully recognize the importance of eye health and urged everyone not to take any warning signals from their body lightly.

5 Major Causes of Retinal Holes: High Myopia Beyond This Degree is a High Risk

Dr. Yu Shan, a Hong Kong ophthalmology specialist, previously explained to Sing Tao Headline that the main causes of retinal holes are as follows:

1. Aging: The vitreous humor naturally shrinks and can pull on the retina, causing a hole.
2. High Myopia: Individuals with over 600 degrees of nearsightedness have elongated eyeballs, increasing the risk of retinal thinning.
3. Eye Trauma: Sports like soccer, boxing, and diving, or lacking eye protection during cosmetic procedures (like ultrasound treatments).
4. Family History: Relatives who have had retinal detachment or holes.
5. Systemic Diseases: Vascular diseases like diabetes can easily affect the eyes.

Floaters Can Be a Warning: 3 Major Precursors of Retinal Detachment

Floaters can be a precursor to retinal detachment. When the vitreous begins to separate from the retina, it can pull on retinal fibers or blood vessels, causing tears and leading to black spots, lines, or web-like floaters in the vision. Yu explained that if a retinal hole is not treated promptly, vitreous fluid can seep through the break, leading to retinal detachment. "Once it progresses to detachment, the surgery becomes much more complex, and vision may not be fully recoverable." The three major precursors of retinal detachment are:

• Flashes of Light: Seeing lightning-like flashes in the dark or with closed eyes.
• Floaters: A sudden sharp increase in the number of black spots.
• Visual Field Loss/Blurred Vision.

She emphasized that when floaters or other warning signs appear, such as flashes of light or decreased vision in part of the visual field, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly to check for retinal holes and receive early treatment to prevent progression to detachment. 

After treatment for a retinal hole, patients should avoid vigorous activities involving rapid head movement, such as roller coasters, jump rope, and diving; wear protective goggles during high-risk sports to avoid impact; avoid rubbing the eyes; and ensure adequate eye protection during cosmetic procedures.

Yu stressed that high-risk individuals, including those with high myopia, a family history, or a previous retinal hole/detachment in one eye, should undergo comprehensive eye examinations every six months to one year to have their retina checked in detail. Daily life should also involve healthy habits, controlling diabetes and blood pressure levels to reduce the impact on ocular blood vessels and lower the risk of retinal detachment.