Sandi Toksvig revealed she went under the knife for a degenerative condition (Image: BBC)
Sandi Toksvig has revealed that her sight had degenerated so badly that she underwent gruelling eye surgery to remove her lenses and replace them with plastic ones.
The former presenter explained that she was previously diagnosed with cataracts during an episode of QI on Tuesday (November 19).
The Danish-British comedian, 66, explained that she underwent corrective eye surgery which has been “lifechanging” for her. Recalling what it was like going under the knife, she revealed that surgeons “break up” the lens and then use a “tiny hoover” to suck them out.
She told viewers: “So, what happens is they break up your own lense and then, it’s like a tiny hoover. It’s the sound of the [makes wooshing noise] as they suck your lense out.”
Her co-star Alan Davies added: “And the bit that they’re taking out, that’s the bit that’s degenerating or gradually getting worse and now you’re kind of okay about it.”
Her QI co-stars quizzed her about the condition (Image: BBC)
The TV presenter went on to add that the surgery was a success and she can see “perfectly” with one eye for distance and one for close up.
She went on: “I’m fine, I can now see perfectly well. I have one eye for distance and one eye for close up.” The comic cheekily asked: “What do you do when you go to the cinema?” as the audience chuckled.
Sandi went on to reveal that despite the invasive surgery, she quickly adapted to her new vision, The TV star explained: “The thing is, your brain works it out completely.
“I don’t have to stop and think about it, but I’m using two different eyes and the brain is just sorting out which one to use.”
She has since made a full recovery (Image: Getty)
Funnyman Jack Dee added: “It sounds like a superpower” as the mum-of-three revealed what it was like when she took the bandage off at the hospital for the first time.
The broadcaster agreed: “Oh Jack, it was. When I took the bandage off for the very first time, it was like I’d never seen colour before. It was sort of terrifying.
“It only takes about 20 minutes but it has been lifechanging. I still will go to art galleries and go, ‘Ahh look at those colours’ if I can see deep purple, it’s been the most liberating thing.
“The other really good thing is now when I’m driving I can see other cars. But it’s very common, about half of those over 80 suffer from cataracts.”