BBC’s Clive Myrie caused a stir on social media after viewers spotted something amiss with his left eye during the live broadcast of News At Six on Monday night. Fans expressed their concern as they watched his left eyelid drooping more and more throughout the show , in stark contrast to his fully open right eye.
The internet buzzed with worry and speculation about the presenter’s health, some even worrying he’d experience a stroke. The Mastermind host personally addressed the issue, reassuring everyone it was “just an infection”.
A BBC spokesperson issued a statement to The Sun confirming this. While few details were released about Clive’s condition, the drooping eyelid is actually a relatively common condition in certain demographics and can be temporary, or permanent and may require surgery.
Ptosis, the medical term for the drooping eyelid that Clive experienced, is not uncommon. It can happen for a wide variety of reasons, affecting around three percent of Botox users within two weeks post-treatment, and a 1995 UK study found that 42% of Brits over 80 experienced the condition due to muscle weakening with age.
Moorfields Eye Hospital notes that early signs of the condition include difficulty keeping the eyelids open, eyestrain, eyebrow ache due to the extra effort needed to lift the lids, and fatigue, particularly when reading. While it’s typically a cosmetic issue that may rectify itself once the root cause is addressed, sometimes surgery on the eyelid is necessary to prevent vision impairment.
There are numerous causes, including congenital ptosis present from birth or developed in adulthood due to infection, growths, injury, prolonged contact lens use or complications from eye surgeries. One of the more peculiar forms of ptosis is Marcus Gunn.
This results from an abnormal link between facial nerves and is usually identified early in childhood. It leads to one droopy eyelid that lifts when the jaw opens, also known as ‘jaw-winking’ ptosis.
While Clive’s ptosis raised eyebrows, some celebrities have embraced their unique features and made their uneven eyes their signature. Renowned actor Forest Whitaker famously has ptosis in his left eye.
Radiohead musician Thom Yorke has openly discussed his health struggles. His left eye was paralysed at birth and multiple unsuccessful eye surgeries ultimately resulted in him having ptosis.