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Warning sign that can be spotted in your eyes could indicate you have silent disease common among celebs

Home> Life

Updated 18:08 4 Aug 2025 GMT+1Published 18:01 4 Aug 2025 GMT+1

Warning sign that can be spotted in your eyes could indicate you have silent disease common among celebs

The tick-borne illness has affected a number of celebrities - most recently Justin Timberlake

Madison Burgess

Madison Burgess

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@justinbieber / Getty Stock Image

Topics: Lyme disease, Justin Timberlake, Health, Celebrity

Madison Burgess
Madison Burgess

Madison is a Journalist at Tyla with a keen interest in lifestyle, entertainment and culture. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a first-class degree in Journalism Studies, and has previously written for DMG Media as a Showbiz Reporter and Audience Writer.

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A particular bacterial disease has been seemingly becoming more and more common among A-listers - and there's a warning sign to do with your eyes that could indicate you have it.

The 'silent' condition is difficult to get a diagnosis for as the symptoms often fly under the radar, meaning many people don't realise they have it for years.

However, recent times have seen a number of celebrities go public with their struggles in an attempt to raise awareness of the tick-borne illness.

The long list includes Justin Bieber, Bella Hadid, Amy Schumer and Ben Stiller, as well as Miranda Hart, Kelly Osbourne, and Avril Lavigne.

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The illness in question is Lyme disease - an infection which is transmitted when a person is bitten by a tick.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, its estimated that around 476,000 people are diagnosed with the bacterial infection each year in the US alone.

Most recently joining the group is Justin Timberlake, who penned a lengthy message on Instagram on July 31, revealing that he too had been diagnosed.

Justin Timberlake is the latest celebrity to be diagnosed with the bacterial disease (Anadolu / Getty Images)
Justin Timberlake is the latest celebrity to be diagnosed with the bacterial disease (Anadolu / Getty Images)

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Describing the health ordeal, he wrote: "If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has - then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure."

Timberlake added: "But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness."

The main symptom of Lyme disease is a 'bullseye' looking rash that can appear anytime from up to three days after you're bitten to three months later.

As well as this, Lyme disease is often associated with flu-like symptoms, including a fever, headache and fatigue.

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And in more severe cases, it can also cause a facial droop and nerve pains - as experienced by Timberlake - as well as numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

Less well known, however, is the impact that Lyme disease can have on the eyes.

Sensitivity to light is a less common symptom of Lyme disease (Getty Stock Image)
Sensitivity to light is a less common symptom of Lyme disease (Getty Stock Image)

According to Medical News Today, if the bacteria that causes Lyme disease moves into the body's central nervous system, it can cause sensory issues to your eyes.

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In some cases, you may suffer from a sensitivity to light as well as other visual disturbances.

This is because Lyme disease can sometimes result in sensory overloading, which causes patients to develop a sensitivity to both light and sound.

An article in Global Lyme Alliance, written by someone who noticed these symptoms, described it as 'bright flashing lights, fast-moving images on a screen, or even fluorescent lighting in a store', making them want to turn away and close their eyes.

The disease can also cause hearing issues, and there have been many reported cases of sudden onset or progressive hearing loss as the primary or sole symptom.

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