A new-look Kyle Anderson has revealed he has been suffering with a complex eye condition but has set his sights…
Kyle Anderson eyeing return to winning ways after diabetic retinopathy scare
Aussie ace Anderson looks on (credit:Lawrence Lustig/PDC)
A new-look Kyle Anderson has revealed he has been suffering with a complex eye condition but has set his sights on more silverware in 2018.
The Australian ace captured his first televised trophy at the Auckland Masters in a memorable week last August which also saw him pick up his first Players Championship title.
The 30-year-old also reached the Semi-Finals of last October’s European Championship, hitting a nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen in the process, but has endured a frustrating start to 2018 both on and off the oche.
Anderson has been wearing glasses for the first time this season, and speaking on Live Darts TV, ‘The Original’ revealed he is suffering from diabetic retinopathy – an eye complication caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue of the retina.
“I’ve got an early onset of diabetic retinopathy,” said Anderson. “It stems from me not controlling my blood sugars for a while.
“You’ve got to understand that when you’re a dart player, the schedule you have, you can’t have your normal veg meals.
“When you finish playing, all that’s open are take-outs and fast food restaraunts.
“I’ve shot myself in the foot in that instance.
Anderson in action against John Henderson in last weekend’s European Open
“The glasses are a mate’s – I put them on at darts one night and said ‘have you got a spare set so I can wear them?’ because from the oche to the board, I can’t see if a treble segment is clear or not without glasses.
“I’m still getting used to them. When you saw me rubbing my eyes against Rob Cross [at the UK Open] it was because it was starting to kick in then.
“I’ve had about four or five blood tests in the last week so I’m trying to get on top of that and see what’s going on.”
The world number 24 reached the Quarter-Finals in his first ranking tournament of the season – UK Open Qualifier One – but has since failed to surpass the Last 32 stage in his last 13 appearances.
The Perth-born star admits his recent health scare has caused him to doubt his own ability, adding: “My darts haven’t been going in at the right angle lately.
“I don’t know whether that’s my throw or whether that happens to be pressure during games because during practice they go in fine but during games they go in at an angle sometimes.
“I don’t really tinker unless I’m doubting myself and to be honest lately I have been doubting myself because of everything that’s happened with the health and eyes.
“You think about things that if they go bad, what can help you get through? I thought shorter stems, they went in well for a while but then they started to go wonky for a while so I’ll have a look and see what happens and might even go for a heavier dart.”
Anderson’s performances towards the back end of last season made him a genuine contender for a place in the Unibet Premier League, but a 4-1 defeat to an inspired Raymond van Barneveld in the Second Round of the World Championship dealt a major blow to his hopes.
When asked if he was expecting to be included in this year’s Premier League line-up, Anderson admitted: “I’ll be straight – yeah, I was, but I knew after the Barney match that I probably wouldn’t have a chance.
“I sat by the phone during the final hoping to get a phonecall but that was just me hoping for the best.
“It is what it is, I can’t go back on it now, I’ve just got to make sure I can get somewhere this year and hopefully get in it.”