Judi Dench doesn’t have any acting work in the near future. It sounds like she may be in the retirement phase of her life. She is 89 years old.

The famous actress was at the Chelsea Flower Show in London over the weekend and told reporters that  she “can’t even see” per an article in Deadline. Judi was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 2012. According to Macular.Org, “Age-Related Macular degeneration is the   leading cause of irreversible vision loss in adults over 60, affecting nearly 20 million Americans.  The risk of developing AMD increases with age.  If you are 75 or older, your risk is 1 in 3.” Currently, there is no cure for AMD.

Macular degeneration is a medical condition that results in the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, called the macula, which leads to vision loss in the central field of vision. There are two types of AMD – dry and wet. Dry AMD is more common and progresses slowly, while wet AMD is less common but can cause more rapid vision loss.

Dench was diagnosed with macular degeneration in both eyes. She has revealed that her mother also had the condition, indicating a genetic predisposition. her condition has significantly impacted her ability to read scripts and see fine details. Dench has mentioned that she can no longer read books and has to rely on friends to help her learn her lines.

Dame Judi Dench is a renowned English actress, celebrated for her extensive and varied career in film, television, and theater. Dench began her film career in the 1960s with roles in movies such as Four in the Morning (1965). Her major breakthrough in cinema came later with roles in films like A Room with a View (1985).

Some of her most notable work includes ‘The James Bond Series’ starting with GoldenEye (1995) and continuing until Skyfall (2012). She played the role of M, the head of M16. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Her repertoire also  include Mrs. Brown (1997), Chocolat (2000), Iris (2001), Philomena (2013), and Victoria & Abdul (2017).

Judi Dench is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, known for her amazing performances and contributions to the performing arts. Her career has spanned over six decades.