Anne Hathaway opens up about secret 10-year vision battle: 'I was half blind'

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway has revealed she quietly battled severe vision problems for nearly a decade after developing early-onset cataracts that left her “legally blind” in one eye.

The 43-year-old star, who is preparing for the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, opened up about the deeply personal health struggle during an appearance on The New York Times’ Popcast podcast.

Hathaway admitted that throughout much of her 30s, she experienced serious vision impairment caused by cataracts in her left eye, though she chose to keep the condition private at the time.

“This is maybe too much information. I was half blind for 10 years,” Hathaway said during the interview.

According to the actress, the condition progressively worsened to the point where she was considered legally blind in her left eye before eventually undergoing corrective surgery.

“It impacted my vision so much that I was basically legally blind out of my left eye,” she explained. “I didn’t realise how bad it had gotten until I could finally see the full spectrum.”

Hathaway described the surgery as life-changing and said restoring her vision brought an unexpected sense of calm and gratitude.

“I didn’t realise it was actually taxing my nervous system,” she shared, adding that being able to fully see again now feels like “a miracle.”

The Oscar-winning actress also reflected on how modern medical treatment transformed her quality of life, noting that earlier generations may not have had access to the same options.

The revelation comes shortly after Hathaway addressed ongoing speculation surrounding cosmetic surgery rumours. In a recent interview with ELLE magazine, the actress denied undergoing a facelift and explained why she felt compelled to respond publicly.

“My preference would be to never comment on anything and to just live in the mystery,” Hathaway said, while acknowledging that public assumptions had become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Hathaway has recently returned to the spotlight with several high-profile projects, including the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, as fans continue to follow both her career comeback and candid personal revelations.