Sir Elton John has revealed he has “lost” the sight in his right eye due to a severe infection, leaving him unable to see for four months and temporarily halting his ability to work on new music.
The 77-year-old “Tiny Dancer” singer shared in September that he spent the summer battling the infection. While he remains hopeful that his vision will improve, he admitted the condition has significantly impacted his life and work.
Sir Elton explained: “It’s been a while since I’ve done anything. I just have to get off my backside. Unfortunately, I lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France.
“It’s been four months now that I haven’t been able to see. My left eye is not the greatest either. There’s hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment.
I can do something like this [interviews], but going into the studio and recording, I don’t know. I can’t see a lyric, for starters.”
The music icon, who shares sons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, with his husband, David Furnish, confessed the situation has been emotionally overwhelming.
“We’re taking steps to try and get it better. But right now, that’s all we’re focusing on,” he said. “It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen. It’s floored me. I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything. I can’t watch anything.”
Elton John
Despite the challenges, Sir Elton remains optimistic and grateful. He is the subject of an upcoming Disney+ documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, and continues to see himself as fortunate.
“I’m so lucky. I’m the luckiest man in the world,” he said. “I’m proud of the documentary, I’m proud of my sons, and I’m proud of my attitude towards myself and what’s going on. I’ve been through so much and come out the other side. I am an iron man.”
In September, he disclosed on Instagram that the infection left him with “limited vision” in one eye.
In a heartfelt post, he wrote: “Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye. I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process, and it will take time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”
Sir Elton expressed gratitude to his medical team and family for their care and support during this difficult period.
“I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home and feel positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far,” he shared.
Although temporarily sidelined by his health, Sir Elton’s resilience and gratitude continue to shine, reminding fans why he remains an enduring icon.
