Ashton Kutcher recalls life-threatening health battle in new interview

Ashton Kutcher has opened up about his terrifying battle with a rare auto-immune disease that left him barely able to see, walk or hear.

Ashton Kutcher has opened up about his health battle. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Ashton Kutcher has opened up about his battle with a life-threatening auto-immune disease that left him struggling to see, hear or walk.

During an appearance on the new Paramount+ series The Checkup With Dr David Agus, the 44-year-old actor described how the symptoms of vasculitis, which he was diagnosed with over two years ago, came completely out of the blue, leaving him struggling with basic day-to-day tasks.

“I woke up one day and was having vision issues [and] could hardly see,” he told the US physician.

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Kutcher spoke of waking up one day struggling to see. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“[It] knocked out my hearing, which threw off my equilibrium, my balance and I couldn’t walk. I had vasculitis, that you’re very well aware of.

“There’s a standard you become accustomed to in your life, like, being able to see clearly. And then suddenly, you can’t see.”

Vasculitis is a rare auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, resulting in restricted blood flow. There are many types of vasculitis, but most affect at least one organ.

Ashton continued detailing the frustrations of the condition.

“Then you’re like, ‘Why are you not f***ing talking louder, ’cause I can’t hear you.’

“You want to reclaim the health that you once had.”

Since then, the actor has did managed to get the disease under control, and even ran the New York City Marathon last month.

Ashton praised wife Mila Kunis for her support since his diagnosis. Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images

“Part of it is this mental thing I have around achieving a full comeback from waking up at the hospital. I was unable to walk, and I was like, ‘Wait a second, if I can go from not being able to walk to running a marathon in a three-year span, then I can let that be a part of the past and be like, I’m back. I’m good,’” the star said.

His doctor remarked that now his vision and hearing is “very close to normal” after his diagnosis in 2019.

Kutcher went on to praise wife Mila Kunis for her support during the health scare.

The pair were on-screen boyfriend and girlfriend in That ’70s Show before marrying in real life. Picture: Supplied

“I will say your wife was amazing,” Dr Agus said during the special, noting Kunis was “curled up by [Kutcher’s] side” throughout the ordeal.

“My wife is the best,” the star agreed.

Elsewhere in the interview, Kutcher was joined by his rarely seen twin brother Michael, who has had health issues since birth. Michael has cerebral palsy, came close to death after contracting viral myocarditis as a child, and underwent a heart transplant.

Ashton and twin brother Michael united for a joint interview in the streaming special. Picture: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

During the reunion, Michael admitted feelings of “jealousy” had led to a rift between the brothers when Ashton’s career was taking off.

“There was a moment in all of this where I moved to New York and was starting to get some traction with my career and Mike came out to visit and stay, and he looked at me and he said, ‘Every time you feel sorry for me, you make me less,’” Ashton said.

“He said, ‘This is the only life I’ve ever known, so stop feeling sorry for the only thing I have.’

“And that then created an entire shift back to where I think we are today, which is straight up equals. That’s it.”

Originally published as Ashton Kutcher recalls life-threatening health battle in new interview