During one of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors‘ four championship runs, he had his eyesight checked, leading to his diagnosis of Keratoconus.
Speaking to People, Curry recalled having “crazy blurred vision or distorted images” in 2018. The Warriors' general manager, Bob Myers, saw him “squinting” on the bench, leading to him being recommended to have his eyes checked.
“They told me that I had a rare condition called Keratoconus, the irregular-shaped cornea that obviously leads to blurriness, distorted images,” he revealed. “What I found out about it was it’s a progressive condition that can deteriorate your vision over time and it’s irreversible if it goes in the wrong direction.”
As it turns out, he was unable to see clearly while winning championships with the Warriors. He joked, “I joke that when I'm all done, my memoir should be called The Whole Time I Couldn't See,” adding, “You're having to process more than you probably need to without that clarity of focus.”
He now has his eyes checked every six months and is now a total pro at applying his contacts. Getting treatment from Glaukos has “curbed all the anxiety around where this could head.”
Article Continues BelowNow, it wasn't always easy. He admitted that for the first year or two, he was “being stubborn” about wearing contacts. He was “used” to playing with his “blurred” vision. He needed to find the “right fit” for his contacts.
“But to that point about wearing the contacts, finding the right fit and the right prescription, ones that stayed stable while I was playing,” he explained.
Ultimately, he is happy he had his eyes checked. Curry conceded that he “can only imagine” what his eyesight would be like had he not taken Myers up on his suggestion. He now encourages everyone to have their sight checked.
“It’s more that transformation has helped a lot, just give me peace of mind, clarity and help performance in a way that it’s not going to tell me I can shoot better, but it just gives me a little bit more energy knowing I can see,” he concluded.