Korean star Lee Dong-gun, widely popular for his roles in “Sweet 18” and “Lovers in Paris,” recently revealed on the variety show “My Little Old Boy” that he has been diagnosed with the rare and difficult-to-treat disease ‘Ankylosing Spondylitis,’ shocking many fans.
On the show, Lee Dong-gun visited the hospital due to severe redness and intense pain in his eyes. He shared that over the past year he has repeatedly experienced blurred vision and extreme sensitivity to light, so much so that he sometimes has to keep one eye closed to endure it. “At first, it was unbearably painful, and now, after taking medication for a year, I’ve just barely started to adapt.”
The doctor explained that his symptoms are related to “uveitis.” Given his medical history, he was ultimately diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a rheumatic disease caused by abnormal immune system function. The illness has an unknown cause, cannot be cured, and can only be managed long-term with medication. The doctor sternly warned that, if not thoroughly managed, the disease could lead to more severe consequences, and emphasized that Lee Dong-gun must overhaul his lifestyle habits, including quitting alcohol and smoking, avoiding sugar and flour, and supplementing with vitamin C to help reduce inflammation. When the doctor announced the diagnosis, Lee Dong-gun’s mother, sitting in the studio, teared up and choked back tears, saying, “I really wish I could take all of this pain for my son.”
Source: United Daily News