Sir Elton John has revealed he is now blind in his right eye following a severe infection last July, with his left eye experiencing limited vision.
The 77-year-old music legend opened up about his declining eyesight in a candid interview with The Guardian.
Despite being unable to attend several high-profile events in recent months, including the gala performance of the musical The Devil Wears Prada, the veteran performer has maintained a resilient spirit in the face of his vision challenges.
Speaking to The Guardian, John acknowledged his current struggles with vision. “I’m an optimist permanently, I’ve got bad eyesight at the moment,” he said.
The star is completely blind in his left eye
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The condition has significantly impacted his daily life, though the star remains determined to face the challenge head-on.
“There have been days I’ve been miserable,” the musician admitted, reflecting on his experience since the infection last summer.
Despite these difficulties, John draws on his past experiences of overcoming adversity, noting: “I’ve beaten addiction, health issues and can pick myself up, dust myself off.”
The iconic musician expressed a newfound empathy for those living with visual impairments, sharing his perspective on his current situation.
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The star has missed some high profile events due to his illness
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“I think about how lucky I am, I’ve got a new respect for sight-impaired people, but I’ve got a great life and hopefully my sight will improve,” he told The Guardian.
His optimistic outlook remains steadfast despite the challenges, demonstrating the same resilience that has characterised his response to previous life obstacles.
The health setback comes at a time when John continues to maintain an active presence in the music industry, though it has affected his ability to attend certain public events.
Despite his vision challenges, John remains actively engaged in his musical career, with his latest studio album “Who Believes In Angels?” set for release on April 4.
Sir Elton is currently working on new music
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The collaborative project features American singer Brandi Carlile and Sir Elton’s longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin.
The recording process wasn’t without its difficulties, as Sir Elton admitted to BBC Radio 2: “I had more doubt on this record than I had ever had in my life.”
However, he credits his collaborators for bringing the project to fruition, stating: “If I’d have been on my own without Brandi and Berni and Andrew, this record would never have got made.”