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Darts Star Searle Battles Rare Eye Condition
2 Jan
Summary
- Ryan Searle has a rare incurable eye condition impacting his vision.
- He sometimes asks the caller for scores due to his condition.
- Searle has raised £15,000 for the Cure ADOA Foundation.
Darts sensation Ryan Searle, currently competing in the World Championship semi-finals, has disclosed his battle with Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), a rare and incurable eye condition. This diagnosis significantly impacts his vision, occasionally making it difficult to discern dart scores during matches.
Searle, who previously worked as a window cleaner, has been a surprise performer at Ally Pally, reaching the final four. He candidly shared that he sometimes relies on the caller to announce his scores, a testament to the challenges posed by his condition. Despite the lack of a cure, Searle wears contact lenses to mitigate visual blurriness.
Beyond his darts career, Searle is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for ADOA, having already generated around £15,000 for the Cure ADOA Foundation. He also revealed concerns about his driving ability deteriorating as his condition potentially worsens, and hopes to inspire others facing similar visual challenges to engage with sports.
