Dame Judi Dench has opened up on her deteriorating eyesight as she admitted that the health battle is a "crusher". The much-loved actress spoke frankly about her health in an interview with the Radio Times, ahead of her 91st birthday on Tuesday. In a candid moment, she admitted that her sight has been declining for some years and she can no longer see the TV. The screen star was diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration in 2012, which can cause permanent and rapid central vision loss, and is the number one cause of vision loss in people over 50.

While the condition doesn't cause total blindness, it can make doing everyday activities quite difficult. "It's a crusher," said Judi, after revealing both her eyes are beyond treatment as they are in the progressed "wet" stage of AMD. When asked what she missed, she added: "I miss seeing Clive Myrie doing Mastermind, but I can hear the questions."

The actress had to give up a lot of daily tasks such as driving, embroidery and even going out alone. Despite these challenges, Judi has not stopped working as she continues to get help from friends and colleagues reading her scripts aloud, which she then learns using her photographic memory.

And while the actress is able to remember countless Shakespeare tales, she revealed that she has a bad short-term memory. "But I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I swear to you," she explained.

At one point during the interview, Judi asked the interviewer to check facts with her assistants, who later confirmed they help organise almost every aspect of her life.

It comes as she previously explained how some people perceive her as snobbish because she doesn't greet them, when, in reality, she simply cannot make them out.

She explained to ITV News: "People think, 'Oh, get her. She's got very grand.' It's because I can't see!" When Sir Ian enquired whether she ever approaches "total strangers" and says "lovely to see you again," Dame Judi giggled before confessing this happens "sometimes".

Nevertheless, the star has been busy as this Christmas, she will appear in a television advert for disaster relief charity ShelterBox, where she's spotted passing on a red lacy thong as a gift to her mate and fellow thespian Dame Imelda Staunton.

She's also teaming up once again with Sir Ian, her co-star from what many consider the finest ever staging of Shakespeare's Macbeth half a century ago, to champion a fresh scheme aimed at introducing the Bard's works to younger audiences.

The full interview is available in Radio Times, out now.