Former The Only Way is Essex and Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wick has opened up about his childhood health struggle that has returned as he gets older
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Strictly Come Dancing's Pete Wicks has revealed he "might need an eye patch" due to a lifelong health condition.
On his Staying Relevant podcast, the star shared that he had a lazy eye as a child. It led to his mum calling him "Pirate Pete" after he was given an eye patch to correct the issue.
The former The Only Way is Essex star mentioned that while the patch did fix his eye problem, it seems to be "going for a walk" as he ages. It has prompted Pete to seek medical advice for his issue.
Pete explained: "I may have to go back to having an eye patch. I used to be called 'Pirate Pete', it was a f***** nickname because I looked like I'd washed up on a desert island but actually it was my mum who first called me that when I was a kid because I had a lazy eye.
When I used to get tired or whatever...I had an eye patch to try and correct it, and it did. I spent about six months."
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Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks has opened up about a lifelong health issue (Image: ITV) Pete also recalled how his schoolmates would mock his eye patch, admitting that he would "punch the f*** out of them" if they bullied him, reports Surrey Live.
He continued: "But, the bad eye is coming back. As I'm getting older, it's starting to go for a little walk now and then.
"So, I have to go and see an eye specialist about whether or not we can re-train it, or if I'm going to have to have some sort of surgery."
Pete revealed that it was his Hits Radio colleague and friend Olivia Attwood who initially noticed something amiss with his eye. But during a chat on Staying Relevant, co-host Sam Thompson admitted that Olivia wasn't alone in spotting the issue with Pete's eye.
He responded: "I think we've all noticed the lazy eye mate, to be honest. You can see around corners."
![LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Pete Wicks attends The BRIT Awards 2025 at the InterContinental London - The O2 on March 01, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)]()
Pete Wicks says he might need surgery on his eye (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Pete has an appointment lined up to have his eye examined soon, remarking: "If I have get the eye patch again, it's not going to be great is it? I almost want to say skip the eye patch and go straight for the surgery."
According to the NHS , a lazy eye - known as amblyopia - is when one of the eyes doesn't develop properly. In rare cases, both eyes can be affected.
How to check if you have a lazy eye?
Symptoms of a lazy eye aren't always obvious, and it's frequently identified during routine eye exams. However, the NHS lists several signs to watch for:
- shutting one eye or squinting to see clearly
- misaligned eyes (a squint)
- difficulty tracking objects or people with your eyes
- tilting the head when focusing on something
- experiencing eye fatigue and frequent rubbing
- headaches
- challenges with catching or throwing
- frequent tripping or stumbling
- excessive blinking
Many kids don't realize there's anything wrong with their vision
For younger children, a simple test can be done by covering one eye at a time with your hand and observing if they complain when their good eye is covered. Older children might express that they cannot see as well through one eye, according to the NHS.
What are the treatments for a lazy eye?
The NHS outlines several treatments for a lazy eye, including wearing glasses to correct vision and using an eye patch for a few hours each day.
Additional treatments encompass the use of eye drops that temporarily blur vision in the stronger eye. Ideally, treatment should commence while vision is still developing, although surgery may still be required, the NHS advises.
If you have any concerns or haven't had an eye test in two years, the NHS recommends speaking to your optician.
