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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Verity Sulway

Phil Schofield desperate for pioneering operation for 'debilitating' medical condition

This Morning 's Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield spoke to Dr Sara about how to keep your eyes healthy.

Phil revealed he suffers from "debilitating eye floaters" and he is looking at surgery which currently only exists in the States.

Dr Sara explained: "Floaters occur when you get small dots across your visual eyesight, and they tend to be more noticeable when you are looking at bright white walls or a piece of paper or even at the sky.

"They are not usually anything to worry about, and it occurs as we get older because the jelly-like substance in our eye becomes a bit more liquified as we get older, and that can cause clumps.

"It can also cause the retina to detach slightly for the edges, and that's what causes those shadows.

"But for most people, nothing to worry about, your brain actually adjusts to them and you stop seeing them.

"But if you do notice a sudden influx of them, that weren't there before, that is something you need to see a doctor about, because it might mean your retina is starting to detach completely, and that can be a medical emergency."

Phil replied: "Well, my retinas are not detaching, but I have debilitating eye floaters, and funnily enough, I had a person who is on the TV contact me the other day and said, 'I heard you've got floaters, what do you do?'

"I am at the cutting edge of all this, let me tell you, because the only way to treat them is a vitrectomy, where they suck the jelly out of your eye.

"Within twelve months you get a cataract, so they are trying to pioneer a half vitrectomy, which started in America - see I know a lot about this!

"You have half the vitrectomy, takes the floaters out, but you don't get a cataract.

"And I am hoping I might be the first person in the country to get this.

Unconvinced, Holly asked: "Would you want to be the first?"

Phil insisted: "Yes I would, because they drive me insane!

"My vision is like a filthy bathroom window drifting across my eyes, and it drives me crazy."

* This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am

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