Joe Biden's eye fills up with blood during live TV debate sparking concerns over his health
Former President Joe Biden's left eye seemed to fill up with blood without him noticing during CNN's town hall on climate change on Wednesday. Although the 76-year-old looked normal when he started speaking at the town hall meeting in New York, smiling at potential voters and patiently answering the questions on fossil fuel emissions and global warming directed toward him from young audience members, a little after 15 minutes into discussing climate change, Biden's left eye appeared bloodshot.
At that moment, former President Barack Obama's running mate was answering questions about fracking and the Green New Deal.
According to Washington Examiner, one of the explanations of the bizarre sight was that Biden had suffered from what is commonly known as a broken blood vessel in the eye, also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. It can be caused by a spike in blood pressure, bleeding disorders, blood thinners, or even excessive straining, the outlet said. A powerful sneeze or cough can also end up breaking a blood vessel in the eye.
"The conjunctiva can't absorb blood very quickly, so the blood gets trapped. You may not even realize you have a subconjunctival hemorrhage until you look in the mirror and notice the white part of your eye is bright red," according to the Mayo Clinic.
When the Democratic frontrunner turned his head sideways to talk to the audience about China's role in carbon emissions, the blood in Biden's eyes was clearly visible.
While subconjunctival hemorrhage is not that serious and does not require any treatment, Biden has had a history of health issues, making some question his physical ability to run the country if he is appointed to the highest office.
Back when he was a Senator from Delaware, he had to get emergency surgery in 1988 after he suffered a burst aneurysm. Months after the successful surgery, he had to go under the knife yet again as doctors scrambled to clip a second aneurysm before it burst. He took a seven-month-long break from his senatorial duties at the time to recover.
"Our doctor told us there was a 50-50 chance Joe wouldn't survive surgery," Jill Biden, his wife, said in her recently released autobiography, 'Where the Light Enters'. "He also said that it was even more likely that Joe would have permanent brain damage if he survived. And if any part of his brain would be adversely affected, it would be the area that governed speech."
He also underwent a colonoscopy in 1996, where doctors removed a benign polyp and in 2003, he had his gallbladder removed. Apart from his numerous surgeries, Biden suffers from asthma and allergies and high cholesterol. He also takes medication for an enlarged prostate.
Before formally entering the Presidential race in October, Biden, who will be the oldest president to be inaugurated to the office if he wins, said that the question of his age was "a totally legitimate thing to raise."
"I think it's totally appropriate for people to look at me and say if I were to run for office again, 'Well God darn you're old.' Well chronologically I am old," he said. "Every voter is entitled to know exactly what kind of shape you're in. You owe it to them. It's a legitimate question and so I think age is relevant."
He recently made headlines after a series of verbal gaffes after he confused details of a ceremony honoring soldier, including his role in the ceremony and the medals awarded at the event. Biden addressed his recent gaffes during an interview on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," where he tried to make light of it by pretending to confuse Colbert with talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel.
"I think it's fair to go after a political figure for anything," Biden added. "But here's the deal. Any gaffe that I have made - and I've made gaffes like every politician I know - has been not about a substantive issue."