U2's Bono reveals he has suffered glaucoma for 20 years- and THAT's why he wears dark sunglasses
- U2's Bono reveals he wears shades because he has had glaucoma
- Has secretly suffered the condition for two decades
- Glaucoma is caused by a build up of pressure within the eye
- This causes damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness
- If it's treated early enough, further damage to vision can be prevented
U2 frontman Bono revealed today he has suffered from glaucoma for two decades - hence his permanent sunglasses
Many assumed the dark glasses worn by U2 frontman Bono were a fashion statement.
But he has revealed the reason he dons shades is because he has suffered from glaucoma for years.
The star said he has suffered the eye condition – which if left untreated can cause vision impairment and even blindness - for around two decades.
Until now, people put the singer's ever-present sunglasses – which he even wore indoors – were a rock star affectation.
But he explained during a recording of tonight's Graham Norton Show for BBC1 that they are to help with his vision problem.
Glaucoma can make the eyes more sensitive to light, causing sufferers to use dark glasses to alleviate difficulties.
Presenter Mr Norton asked whether the singer ever removes his shades, to which Bono replied: 'This is a good place to explain to people that I've had glaucoma for the last 20 years.
'I have good treatments and I am going to be fine.'
He added: 'You're not going to get this out of your head now and you will be saying "Ah, poor old blind Bono".
Glaucoma is caused by a build-up of pressure in the eyeball when the fluid in the eye cannot drain properly, which can damage the optic nerve.
If left untreated, it can lead to loss of peripheral vision and ultimately complete loss of sight.
Early diagnosis can mean further sight deterioration can be prevented - with laser treatment, eye drops and surgery used to stop it worsening - but the damage to the optic nerve cannot be undone.
For the most common type of glaucoma, there are no noticeable symptoms because the condition develops very slowly.
People often do not realise their sight is being damaged because the first part of the eye to be affected is the peripheral vision.
Vision is lost from the outer rim of the eye, slowly working inwards towards the centre.
The Irish band were on the Graham Norton show to promote their new album, Songs Of Innocence.
The song was released commercially this week after previously being given away to half a billion iTunes customers, a controversial move which upset some people who said they did not want it automatically added to their music libraries.
Speaking about the furore, Bono told Mr Norton: 'We wanted to do something fresh but it seems some people don't believe in Father Christmas.
'All those people who were uninterested in U2 are now mad at U2. As far as we are concerned, it's an improvement.'
Bono revealed that the shades he continually wears help alleviate the symptoms of glaucoma. He is pictured here with Apple CEO Tim Cook during the Apple launch last month
- School fight between teacher and student caught on camera
- Horrified families watch as lion kills lioness in Polish zoo
- Ebola-infected nurse Nina Pham speaks from hospital bed...
- On board the flight carrying Ebola nurse Amber Vinson
- Woman knocks man flat out with one punch in Kazakhstan
- Marine survives head-shot from Taliban sniper
- She's parking mad! Driver takes over TWO MINUTES to park
- Plane passenger discusses sitting next to ebola-infected...
- Mystery man walks with ebola victim WITHOUT hazmat suit
- Ebola nurse Nina Pham's dog Bentley in quarantine
- Governor says eight New York hospitals to handle Ebola cases
- Behind the scenes of the risque Hot Shot's calendar in Utah
- Fresh Ebola fears after a passenger flying from to Nigeria...
- Fears for Ebola nurse Nina Pham, 26, as her condition...
- Ebola scare on the high seas: Mexico and Belize close ports...
- Frontier Airlines notifies 800 passengers they were on the...
- Cops quarantined, Pentagon partially locked down, hazmat...
- Ebola nurse in isolation, but not alone: Moment doctor...
- Teenagers charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy...
- Twitter spat between 'bald' Donald Trump and 'loser'...
- Caught on camera: Shocking moment a fed-up Baltimore teacher...
- Family of Django Unchained star Misty Upham claim they had...
- Pictured: Moment attorney on maternity leave showed up in...
- Inside the Frontier flight with Ebola stricken nurse from...