http://pagesix.com/2014/05/22/mary-tyler-moore-is-nearly-blind/

According to Betty White, “Her eyesight is what the big problem is right now."
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#k53R4gb4A7w2XqkI.99

Link (http://pagesix.com/2014/05/22/mary-tyler-moore-is-nearly-blind/)

Legendary actress Mary Tyler Moore has been left nearly blind from her years-long battle against diabetes, according to friends of the iconic TV star.

The 77-year-old Moore was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 33, and she’s been largely out of public view for the past two years fighting the disease.

“Her eyesight is what the big problem is right now,” long-time pal and “Mary Tyler Moore Show” co-star Betty White told Closer Weekly magazine.

“[Moore is now] almost beyond the point [of being able to see].”

Despite the illness that’s kept her at home for most of the past two years, she’s managed to stay in touch with famous friends.

“I don’t see her often, but I talk to her a bunch,” said veteran funnyman Dick Van Dyke, who played Moore’s husband on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” ”She hasn’t been too well. She’s really having a battle with it, I’m sorry to say.”

Valerie Harper, a “Mary Tyler Moore Show” co-star before spinning off into her own successful show, said diabetes has taken a brutal toll on Moore.

“[The diabetes] does ravage her body, but she stays healthy,” said Harper.

The “Rhoda” star called Moore a “wonderful friend,” who sounded great when they last spoke.

Another friend of Moore’s also said the actress is in remarkably good spirits despite her physical condition.

“Mary is not a woe-is-me woman,” the pal told the mag. “She has her bad days emotionally, but she just tries to find enjoyment in each and every day.”

Family confidante Dr. Mark Atkinson said he keeps in close contact with Moore’s husband, Dr. Robert Levine, and found that they’re coping the best they can.

“We’ve laughed together, cried together, gotten disappointed together,” Atkinson said. “They’ve just been the perfect couple.”

Moore has struggled with her vision for years.

Back in 1997, she was scheduled to be the mistress of ceremonies for the Directors Guild of America awards show in New York before she withdrew at the last second. She had gone “temporarily blind,” a union official said.

Moore is best known for playing TV news producer Mary Richards in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970 to 1977.

The sitcom was considered a trailblazer for depicting a 30-something single woman happily pursuing a career without obsessing about finding a mate.

Very sad. I like Mary Tyler Moore. I wish her the best.

Mary has such a positive attitude and lots of great friends, which I'm sure is helping in a tough situation.
She's in my thoughts.

When the cast reunited for "Hot in Cleveland," it was obvious Mary had sight issues. Her big brown eyes looked dark and almost hollow... plus, if you watch closely, you will notice she never walks or stands during the episode. Her balance has been off for some time - it was evident when she received the SAG award a couple years ago. She could not walk across the stage - but the lights came up to reveal her at the podium.

I don't make these statement to be rude or hurtful. It's just a few observations I've made.

She can still turn the world on with her smile. I hope the days ahead have some quality for her and her family.

When the cast reunited for "Hot in Cleveland," it was obvious Mary had sight issues. Her big brown eyes looked dark and almost hollow... plus, if you watch closely, you will notice she never walks or stands during the episode. Her balance has been off for some time - it was evident when she received the SAG award a couple years ago. She could not walk across the stage - but the lights came up to reveal her at the podium.

I don't make these statement to be rude or hurtful. It's just a few observations I've made.

She can still turn the world on with her smile. I hope the days ahead have some quality for her and her family.

I didn't see the Hot in Cleveland episode with Valerie Harper, but I saw the first episode MTM appeared in a couple years earlier. In that scene, she played a cell mate to Betty White's character. The scene opened with Mary laying on her bed facing the wall and back to the camera. Her big reveal to the audience was simply her rolling over to show her face. At the end of the scene, jail guards escorted her out of the cell. It was clear to me this was an effort to show her some dignity because she probably could not have exited the set on her own. I remember many years ago in an interview, MTM said she would probably one day lose her sight. I hoped that would never happen. To think that we can all still enjoy reruns of all her old shows, yet she isn't able to do the same, makes me sad.

Mary having trouble with her sight IS a little sadder to those of us who thought she had the most beautiful eyes we'd ever seen.

When Betty White had her 90th birthday TV special a few years ago, Mary didn't look well then. I believe she had recently had some sort of brain surgery then. So sad to hear she is not well.