Selma Blair has shared a lesser-known symptom of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that went unnoticed by doctors despite experiencing it for as long as she could recall.
The 53-year-old actress discussed her MS diagnosis, which she publicly revealed in October 2018, two months after being informed by her doctors.
As reported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nearly one million people in the United States are living with this chronic autoimmune disease.
For some individuals, symptoms may be mild, but for others, like Blair, the condition can become so severe that it impacts their ability to walk or communicate.
In a recent appearance on the UK daytime show, This Morning, the star of Legally Blonde discussed experiencing a particular symptom from a young age.
“I’ve had symptoms for as young as I can remember with my eyesight,” she mentioned to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd.
“I had optical neuritis and we never really diagnosed it. [They] just said ‘Oh, it’s turned into a lazy eye.’”
The Mayo Clinic defines optical neuritis as swelling that affects the optic nerve, with common symptoms including pain during eye movement and temporary vision loss in one eye.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society explains that although it is frequently linked to MS, optical neuritis can also result from other causes.
“It can be painful in the eye, pressure, and the eye nerve gets quite inflamed, so you can accrue damage the longer that stays,” Blair explained, adding that with relapsing, it can also remit. “It can go away, so it can be tricky, I think with doctors, especially when you’re young and quite capable.”
The actress from Cruel Intentions expressed that although she underwent neurological tests with doctors, she understood how a condition like optical neuritis might be overlooked.
During her conversation with the ITV presenters, she mentioned experiencing chronic headaches and fever, along with a drop leg and tics during her younger years.
“But I did spend my entire life with doctors really trying to find out why I was so tired, but it was really misdiagnosed as depression,” Blair confessed. “I guess extreme fatigue can also seem like depression, so I just went that way and figured ‘Oh god, I guess it’s all in my head.’”
In August 2021, Blair announced that her MS was in remission and that no new lesions had formed; however, in a recent interview with TODAY, she disclosed that her remission has not been without relapses.
The former Dancing with the Stars participant shared that a doctor had offered her a new medication, which has since improved her condition.
“I really wanted to do as much as I can in my life while I have this great time being relapse-free,” Blair remarked. “I want to try as much as I can, and I want to show people too, that just because you get a hard diagnosis, it doesn’t always… mean a death sentence, that there are ways to lighten the load.”
“And if I can help lighten the load for other people or for their parents or anyone, then I’m so happy to be able to do that in any way.”
For those seeking support or affected by the issues discussed in this article, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America offers assistance. You can reach MSAA’s Helpline in several ways: Call (800) 532-7667, extension 154, or email [email protected].