Celebrated culinary personality and former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong has recently given her followers a glimpse into a personal health scare following an emergency eye surgery.

Leong, who has become a beloved figure in Australian television, assured her fans that she was okay.



The TV star, known for her discerning palate and vibrant on-screen presence, shared startling images of herself with a bandaged eye after undergoing a procedure to remove a chalazion, an inflammatory lesion in the eyelid.

'Just a minor impromptu eye surgery for a chalazion,' she wrote in her post.

Despite the circumstances, Leong maintained her sense of humour, joking that she was 'trying out a new look'.

'Thank you to the amazing team for making the whole experience far less scary than I built it up to be,' she added.



In the photos, Leong can be seen smiling at the camera, her usual glasses perched atop her eye patch.

This unexpected health scare comes amidst rumours that Leong has caught the eye of international TV executives.

According to reports from the Herald Sun, she is being considered as a judge for the MasterChef franchise in Asia and Singapore.

This news follows Leong’s decision to step away from the Australian format of the show in 2023.



Leong's departure from MasterChef Australia was a significant moment in her career.

She had been a judge on the show alongside Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo, who tragically passed away in April at the age of 46.

Zonfrillo's death occurred just a day before the new season of MasterChef was due to air, casting a sombre shadow over the show.

In a social media post from October, Leong expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of MasterChef Australia.

'My time as co-host and judge on MasterChef Australia has been a great gift,' she wrote.

'To have been given the opportunity to learn and grow—and now to be given the vote of confidence to expand and evolve the MasterChef universe is huge!'



Leong's departure from the show was initially reported as her being 'axed from the judging lineup'.

However, she quickly clarified that she had chosen to 'step away' from the show.

'I get that there is going to be a bit of confusion and chaos about the “why” of it all right now.' she said in another social media post.

'I’m here and happy to clear that up because negative tropes draped around women who achieve something is boring, and frankly, we are all better than that.'

'This is a shift I embrace with joy. One that allows everyone involved to expand.'

You can read more about this story here.
What are your thoughts on Melissa Leong's recent health scare? Have you or someone you know ever experienced a similar condition? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below.