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Ashton Kutcher Says Vasculitis Left Him Temporarily Blind

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Ashton Kutcher has revealed that he recently struggled with an autoimmune disorder that left him unable to hear, see, or walk for nearly a year. In a preview clip of Bear Grylls’s National Geographic show, Kutcher spoke with Grylls about his struggle with vasculitis, a disorder involving inflamed blood vessels that, in extreme cases, can cause temporary or permanent blindness and loss of hearing.

“Two years ago,” Kutcher said, “I had this weird, super-rare form of vasculitis that knocked out my vision, it knocked out my hearing, it knocked out all my equilibrium. It took me, like, a year to build it all back up.” He continued:

“You don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone. Until you go, ‘I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to see again, I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to hear again, I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to walk again.’”

Kutcher added that he feels “lucky to be alive” after the experience. The full episode airs Monday night.

Ashton Kutcher Says Vasculitis Left Him Temporarily Blind