Vladimir Putin snapped back at an eye specialist who questioned the 72-year-old’s vision by denying that he needs glasses even though he regularly reads from scripts with large print
Vladimir Putin has denied to Russians that he has poor eyesight – even though he is regularly seen reading from large-sized scripts in his briefing notes.
The 72-year-old dictator hates admitting any health failings and snapped back when an eye surgeon dared to tell him: “Even the best car needs a technical inspection.” Denying he has problems focusing and needs glasses, Putin told a Champagne reception for Russians honoured as Heroes of Labour: “My [eyesight] was [fine] all the time [during my life]. Five or six years ago, I went for a check-up and they said to me ‘somewhere between 0.9 and 0.8 [good but not perfect vision].”
The medics told him: “You could have appropriate glasses.” Putin said: “They gave me glasses. I put them on for the first time. I got dizzy.” He recalled thinking “if I don’t take them off now, I’ll [have them] for the rest of my life.”
Eminent ophthalmologist Georgy Stolyarenko, 70, told him: “Not exactly like that, but….” Putin butted in: “I don’t know if it’s like that or not, but it works. Now I can read freely without any problems.”
Yet there is copious evidence that he needs large-sized briefing notes to read, and the Kremlin takes steps to hide the giant script, not always successfully.
Stolyarenko persisted, urging that Putin did not reject professional advice on his eyes, saying: “Even the best car needs a technical inspection.” The Russian ruler hit back: “I pass technical inspection regularly. Every year, a checkup, that’s all…. I devote two whole afternoons to it every year.”
Yet in 2022 it was revealed by independent media outlet Proekt that Putin used the services of at least 60 doctors. On trips, he was reported to be accompanied by at least nine doctors.
It is also known that his palaces – such as Valdai in Northern Russia and Gelendzhik on a Black Sea clifftop, hidden from ordinary Russians – have specially equipped hospital wings to cater for Putin’s health needs.
Sources have also revealed Putin is fond of alternative health remedies such as taking baths in the blood of deer – extracted from their sawn off antlers. The “barbarian” ancient tradition is seen in Siberia as a testosterone-driven elixir to improve male potency, restore youth, and bring multiple health benefits.
Around the time of the Covid pandemic, rumours swirled over Putin’s health, with one Telegram Channel – General SVR – even claiming that Putin died in October 2023, to be replaced by a healthy body double. The Kremlin was forced to officially deny the allegation.
Earlier the then CIA chief William Burns had suggested that far from having medical problems, Putin was “too healthy”. During the three year war against Ukraine, Putin’s health has appeared stronger than earlier.
He no longer appears isolated at the end of his trademark long table. Yet rumours persist that body doubles are used as stand-ins on trips around Russia. And Agentsvo independent media said that the Kremlin has stopped announcing that the septuagenarian takes ice dips, an annual Russian custom at Epiphany, an indication that he is not as healthy as his propaganda machine likes to portray him.