Former Coronation Street actress Lisa George has opened up about being hospitalized due to a medical condition that has left her partially blind in one eye.
Known for her role as Beth Tinker on the ITV soap for 13 years, Lisa revealed she is managing NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), a condition that can cause sudden vision loss due to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve.
She first experienced vision loss in 2016, but a recurrence in 2022 led to a hospital stay. Recalling the incident, Lisa said she noticed blurry vision while out for a dinner celebrating former co-star Katie McGlynn’s birthday and realized something was seriously wrong. She contacted an ophthalmologist the next day and was admitted to A&E, spending a week in hospital. Doctors attributed the issue to undiagnosed diabetes at the time.
Now, Lisa says her vision has stabilized. She can see distances clearly but struggles with reading and numbers, requiring glasses for close work and varifocals for driving. She avoids night driving due to blind spots, which she attributes partly to age.
Lisa explained that on dark outdoor Corrie shoots, she would request to be on the inside of the pavement since she couldn’t see the edge of the curb.
Discussing concerns about her vision affecting future work, she admitted she doesn’t want her eyesight to worsen. She recalled initially worrying about performing in theatres with dim stages, but after doing panto last year, she praised the cast and crew for making it manageable.
Despite her visual challenges, Lisa’s life after Corrie has been “busy.” She’s taken on a variety of projects she enjoys, including presenting an award at the National Diversity Awards and meeting inspiring people.
“I’ve also become a Board Member of Acting Lincs in Lincolnshire, which helps connect people in the Lincolnshire area to the industry. Just because we live in Lincolnshire doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”