Ant McPartlin's Painful Eye Condition Revealed on Podcast
Television personality Ant McPartlin has openly shared a distressing health episode with his followers, revealing a severely swollen eye that required immediate medical attention. The 50-year-old presenter documented the uncomfortable experience during a recent episode of his popular podcast Belta Box, which he hosts alongside longtime friend and colleague Declan Donnelly.
Blocked Tear Duct Diagnosis and Antibiotic Treatment
McPartlin explained that what began as a minor irritation quickly escalated into a significant medical concern. The star described how his eye dramatically swelled, prompting him to seek professional advice. Medical professionals diagnosed the issue as a blocked tear duct, prescribing a course of antibiotics to address the inflammation and infection.
"I got a bit of an itchy eye. Then this happened to me, that blew up," McPartlin recounted during the podcast recording. "They said it's a blocked tear duct so I'm on antibiotics."
Pharmacy Visit and Unexpected Selfie Request
The television presenter humorously detailed his visit to collect the prescribed medication, where despite his visibly uncomfortable condition, he found himself fielding an unexpected request. McPartlin revealed that the pharmacist recognised him and asked for a selfie during what he described as a particularly low moment.
"You can see my eye is bad. You can tell by my expression, I'm not in the best of moods, because my eye's like this," he explained. "But as I picked up the antibiotics, the pharmacist asked for a selfie. That is not just for comedic effect because I'm doing the story on the podcast, he's like, 'Do you mind having a selfie mate?' I'm like, now?"
Broader Health Context and ADHD Diagnosis
This recent eye condition represents just one chapter in McPartlin's ongoing health journey. The Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway presenter has previously spoken candidly about receiving an ADHD diagnosis following his 2018 drink-driving incident. He described how this diagnosis helped explain many aspects of his personal struggles.
"I've got ADHD. I don't mind talking about that," McPartlin stated. "I was so thoroughly examined and diagnosed, I found stuff out about me I hadn't addressed for years."
In a 2019 interview, the television star noted how the diagnosis immediately resonated with him, particularly regarding established connections between ADHD and alcohol dependency. McPartlin has reflected extensively on how the condition affects different areas of his life, observing that while it benefits his professional work through what he describes as "popcorn thinking" that allows rapid task switching, it presents challenges in his personal life.
"In my job, having what they call 'popcorn thinking' is good because it means you can jump from one thing to another," he explained. "Professionally it's brilliant. Personally I'm all over the place."
The presenter's willingness to discuss both immediate health concerns like his eye condition and broader mental health matters continues to resonate with audiences, highlighting the importance of transparency regarding health issues in the public eye.
