The woman who inspired Scottish comedian Richard Gadd's award-winning series Baby Reindeer has revealed she is going blind.
Fiona Harvey, a law graduate, has been diagnosed with background retinopathy, reports the Daily Record.
The 59-year-old, from Scotland, is currently at the centre of a huge multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Netflix.
According to the newspaper, the diagnosis is just one of several health issues Fiona claims have arisen since being identified as the inspiration for Baby Reindeer stalker, Martha.
Richard Gadd - Baby Reindeer's 'Martha' going blind amid stress of Netflix show (Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) The series, which aired more than one year ago, is claimed to be a 'true story'.
Following it, Fiona filed a £132million defamation lawsuit against Netflix, claiming she was easily identifiable as Martha.
However, Netflix is defending the lawsuit and Gadd's 'right to tell his story'.
She told the Record: “I’m going blind and it’s not surprising with the stress I have been under as a result of Baby Reindeer.
“I am diabetic and have always been able to keep my blood sugars under control, but my blood sugars have been wild ever since Richard Gadd’s show aired.
“I am not sleeping properly, I’m not able to eat properly, I’m not able to get proper exercise because I’m virtually a prisoner in my own home.”
Fiona received confirmation of her illness after eye tests at a London hospital recently.
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Background retinopathy affects people with diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
A letter confirming Fiona's condition said: “Dear Dr Fiona Harvey, Your test results show that you do have background retinopathy.”
Fiona added: “It is something that diabetics can get if your sugars are out of control.
"My sugars were fine until Baby Reindeer, that led to all my physical health problems.
“I don’t have money for proper food.
"I feel it could lead to blindness very quickly in both eyes.”
At the crux of Fiona's lawsuit against Netflix is that, unlike Martha, who is sent to jail twice, she has no criminal convictions.
She said: “I have no criminal record. I am not Myra Hindley. I am not Rose West.
"I’m not Dennis Nilsen.
"I have not received an indefinite life sentence. My life was normal before this started. Mr Gadd has made my life intolerable.
"I’ve had to send people out to do the food shopping. I can’t have workmen in my house, lest they go off to Netflix.”
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