Emmerdale Star Michelle Hardwick Hospitalised After Painful Eye Injury
Emmerdale actress Michelle Hardwick has disclosed that she was rushed to the accident and emergency department over the weekend following a distressing injury to her eye. The 50-year-old star, renowned for her role as Vanessa Woodfield in the long-running ITV soap opera, shared the news with her fans, detailing the incident that occurred on Saturday night.
Emergency Treatment and NHS Praise
Michelle, who hails from Wakefield, was admitted to her local A&E on Sunday morning after sustaining a scratch on her cornea, a condition medically known as a corneal abrasion. She spent time waiting for treatment and was subsequently discharged with a prescription for antibiotic cream, which she must apply over five days to aid recovery.
In a heartfelt post on her Instagram Stories, Michelle praised the National Health Service, describing it as "amazing" for the care she received. She shared a selfie that vividly displayed one of her eyes appearing inflamed and painful, while the other was covered with makeup. The image highlighted the redness and discomfort associated with the injury.
Details of the Injury and Symptoms
Captioning her post, Michelle asked, "Anyone else had a scratched cornea?" and explained, "This happened Saturday night... Little trip to A&E Sunday morning to be checked over. Antibiotic cream for 5 days. Good job I'm not back in work til Friday. Thank you to our amazing NHS."
According to opticians Specsavers, a corneal abrasion is one of the most common eye injuries, involving damage to the outer layer of the cornea. Symptoms typically include:
- Feeling as though there is sand or grit in the eye
- Painful eyes
- Teary or watering eyes
- Red eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
While minor scratches often heal independently, medical attention is advised if symptoms persist to rule out other eye problems. Causes of corneal abrasions can range from airborne particles like dust or sand to contact with objects such as fingernails, with dry eyes increasing the risk due to insufficient lubrication.
Prevention and Recovery Advice
To reduce the risk of such injuries, experts recommend blinking several times, rinsing eyes with water, or using a saline solution to clean the eye if a foreign object is suspected. Michelle's injury comes just weeks after she revealed an exciting new project, a short film titled Through The Eyes of Bairns, which focuses on growing up in the shadow of domestic abuse.
In this film, Michelle stars alongside Coronation Street actress Krissi Bohn, who played Jenna Kamara, with Krissi portraying Michelle's on-screen wife. Michelle recently shared images from the film's set on her Instagram Story, expressing her enthusiasm by writing, "Loved this shoot." The film's official Instagram page also posted an update, stating, "Block one of filming: done," and praising the cast and crew's energy and teamwork.
As Michelle recovers from her eye injury, fans and colleagues alike are wishing her a speedy recovery, with her positive experience highlighting the crucial role of the NHS in emergency care.
