Dame Tracey Emin, the 62-year-old artist, shares an emotional update on her recovery from eye surgery after enduring months of partial blindness.
Overcoming Vision Challenges
She posted on Instagram showing her eye bandaged post-operation, later switching to a patch during recovery. Emin describes feeling overwhelmed by her vision struggles, where everything appeared in sepia tones. Now, she sees the brightest whites and eagerly anticipates viewing her artwork clearly.
“I haven’t posted for a long time. Months in fact. Not because my life isn’t interesting but because my life at times is overwhelming. It feels too much for me, so I imagine it’s too much for anybody,” she writes.
She mentions upcoming highlights: her show at Tate Modern, a recent opening in Rome, Tate Lates in Margate, holidays, love for her pets Teacup and Pancake, Margate sunsets, curated shows, and her new haircut.
Surgery Details
The eye surgery marks a major milestone. Emin walked around half-blind for over a year, with her right eye showing a sepia blur of muddy colors. After the procedure, those have transformed into brilliant whites. She undergoes left eye surgery with a new lens, eliminating astigmatism, yellow glow, and fuzzy sight.
“Today I’m having my left eye done. A new lens put in… No more astigmatism… no more yellow glow… no more fuzzy sight. I will be able to see clearly for the first time in my life,” she states. “The first thing I want to do is go to Tate Modern and look at my work!”
Support from Fans and Friends
Fans and celebrities respond warmly. Comedian Jade Adams comments, “That eye patch is pretty chic.” Actress Debi Mazar offers encouragement with “Forza!” meaning “Force!” in Spanish.
Previous Health Battles
In 2020, Emin faced aggressive bladder cancer during lockdown. Surgeons removed her bladder, urethra, lymph nodes, parts of her intestine, and vagina to halt tumor spread. She now uses a stoma pouch on her abdomen for urine diversion via a urostomy bag.
Emin openly shares her experiences. In a prior Instagram post, she explains: “This is my stoma. Most people have never seen one. It’s something I’m supposed to hide forever.”
“It’s part of my intestine attached to the outside of my body. Without it being there and functioning correctly, I will die. [It’s] live flesh. Fragile and delicate. Surrounded by scar tissue and swollen puffy fatty flesh.”
She notes significant muscle wastage in her core and the emotional challenge of the urostomy bag: “To be honest I find wearing the bag quite depressing. Nothing cool about carrying a bag of p*** around with you. But it’s life… my life now. Many disabilities cannot be seen. But I thought I’d show you mine.”
