Zeenat Aman undergoes surgery after being diagnosed with eye problem ptosis: 'I was terrified...'

Veteran actor Zeenat Aman took to Instagram to reveal that she had been diagnosed with an eye problem called ptosis. She shared that the condition is the result of a muscle injury that she suffered decades ago and she was hospitalised for treatment in May this year.

‘There has been an elephant in the room with me for the past 40 years. It is time to show this elephant the door. I have a condition known as ptosis – the result of an injury I suffered many decades ago that damaged the muscles around my right eye. Over the years, it caused my eyelid to droop further and further. And a few years ago it became so acute that it began to obstruct my vision,’ Zeenat Aman wrote.

‘When so much of one’s career is predicated on one’s appearance, coming to terms with a dramatic change to it is difficult. I know for a fact that this ptosis narrowed my opportunities and made me the subject of unwanted attention. But despite the gossip, the comments, and the questions, I never felt diminished by it. It helped of course that there were always a few stalwarts that stood by me and chose to work with me still,’ she continued.

Zeenat Aman shared that the treatments which were made available to her were ‘unsuccessful’. But in April this year, a leading ophthalmologist informed her that things had advanced and there was a surgery to lift the eyelid and restore her vision.

Zeenat wrote, ‘I dithered for a long time, then underwent a battery of tests and finally committed to the procedure. That morning in the hospital I was terrified. My extremities turned icy and involuntarily shivers racked my body. Zahaan kissed my forehead, reassured me and wheeled me to the OT, where I surrendered to the hands of my medical team. I emerged from there an hour later - alive, well and looking like a pirate with an eye patch.’

Zeenat concluded, ‘Recovery has been slow, steady and is ongoing. But I’m happy to share that my vision is so much clearer now’.

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