The actor and presenter, who is also known for hosting ITV primetime quiz The Chase, revealed the extent of his condition when talking on This Morning to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes. He confessed that he suffers from a disorder known as blepharitis, which causes his eyes to swell and become extremely red and itchy.
“So many times, people have commented on how I look. But they don’t realise. If I take medication though, I’m fine,” Bradley elaborated.
One fan went as far to say that the 61-year-old looked like he had been drinking prior to filming The Chase spin-off, Beat The Chasers.
Voicing their concerns on Twitter, one fan said: “I love Bradley Walsh, but he always looks like he’s been on the p*** all day with his red eyes #BeatTheChasers.”
The main symptoms of blepharitis, beyond making eyes physically red include:
- Feeling like there’s something in your eye
- Burning or stinging eyes
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Red and swollen eyes or eyelids
- Tears that are foamy or have small bubbles in them
- Dry eyes
- Crusty eyelids or eyelashes when you wake up.
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The condition can also cause more complex problems such as causing eyelashes to grow in the wrong direction, and swelling in other parts of the eye like the cornea.
Other symptoms that Bradley specifically suffers from includes itchy eyelids, swollen eyes and flakes or crusts at the base of his eyelashes.
Luckily for the star, the condition is not life-threatening, but can lead to conjunctivitis – an infection that causes inflammation in the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and eyeball.
Individuals can also be at higher risk of contracting the condition if they have the following other health conditions that mainly affect the skin:
- Dandruff – flaky patches of skin on your scalp or face
- Rosacea – a skin condition that causes redness and bumps, usually on your face
- Oily skin
- Allergies that affect your eyelashes.
Typically, in order to treat the condition, medical professionals advise that individuals keep their eyelids clean and free of any crusts that may develop.
Although it might seem simple, there is a recommended process to cleaning your eyes properly, which uses a gentle cleanser.
The National Eye Institute recommends following these seven steps to make sure you are cleaning your eyes properly:
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Mix warm water with a gentle cleanser, like baby shampoo.
- Dip a clean, soft cloth or cotton swab in the warm cleanser and water mixture.
- Press the cloth against your closed eye for a few minutes to loosen crusts. This can also help keep your oil glands from clogging.
- Gently rub the cloth or cotton swab back and forth, focusing on the area where your eyelashes meet your eyelids.
- Rinse your eyes with clean water.
- Repeat these steps on your other eye using a new cloth or cotton swab.
Blepharitis is a condition that won’t disappear completely, so individuals will need to follow the cleaning routine for the rest of their lives.
Alternatively, individuals may be prescribed antibiotic tablets and eye drops which aim to fight the infection. As Bradley confessed, he has to take a daily tablet in order to keep his condition at bay.
Oral antibiotics are usually recommended by doctors if other forms of treatment have failed to clear up the infection, hinting at how bad Bradley’s blepharitis is.
Unfortunately, no alternative medicine treatments have yet been proved to ease symptoms of blepharitis, but The Mayo Clinic does suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids or supplements may help symptoms associated with blepharitis and rosacea.
Although The Mayo Clinic admits that this still needs further study, omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as salmon, tuna, trout, flaxseed and walnuts. Omega-3 can also be taken in tablet form.