Elton John Shares Update on His ‘Severe’ Eye Infection—‘I Haven’t Been Able to See in 4 Months’
Plus, learn more about what can cause eye infections and what to do if you think you have one
While Elton John is knee-deep in promotion for his musical documentary Never Too Late (premiering on December 13 on Disney+), he has also not released any new music lately. That’s because the singer has been struggling with some major health issues regarding his vision. In September, he shared a statement on his social media accounts detailing that he’s been dealing with a “severe eye infection.” Keep reading to get an update on his condition and how to recognize an eye infection of your own.
An update on Elton John’s serious eye infection
In a recent interview with Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, Elton John revealed that he’s still struggling with an eye infection. This comes after she asked for an update on a new album. He responded by saying, “Unfortunately, I lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection. It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see.”
He also said his left eye isn’t the greatest. However, “there’s hope and encouragement it will be okay, but I am kind of stuck at the moment, because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording—I don’t know. Because I can’t see a lyric, for start.”
During the interview, he shared that he’s taking the initiative to get better and that’s his main priority. The infection “floored” him and currently, he can’t see anything, read anything or watch anything.
Elton John’s original diagnosis
After undergoing hip surgery and a knee replacement in recent years, John shared in September that he was still struggling with his health—although this time it’s his vision.
“Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye,” the singer revealed in a statement posted to his social media accounts. “I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”
He noted how thankful he is for the team of healthcare professionals as well as his friends and family for being there while he recovers. “I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks. I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.”
What causes eye infections?
John’s instance is severe as he is partially blind in one eye, but eye infections have a variety of causes and vary in symptoms depending on what you’re dealing with.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “An eye infection is a disease of the eye that you get because of a microorganism like a bacterium, a virus or a fungus.” The most common is pink eye or conjunctivitis.
Eye infections can happen in one or both eyes, and some aren’t serious while others can be detrimental to your vision. “You can have an infection on your eyelid, your conjunctiva or cornea, or the external parts of your eye.” Each year about 1 million people head to the doctor or hospital to treat an eye infection.
What should you do if you think you have an eye infection?
When it comes to your vision and your eyes, you don’t want to mess around. If you think you have an eye infection, seeing a doctor or healthcare professional is crucial.
Early signs of an infection include redness, itching or irritation, watering or swelling and if it’s more serious, you might notice discharge, blurred vision or sensitivity to light, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The doctor can do an eye exam and may swab the discharge to be tested by a lab. If you do have an eye infection, treat it with warm or cool compresses, lubricating eye drops or over-the-counter medicine for any pain.
Eye infections can also be contagious, so it’s best to keep to yourself until it’s treated to avoid spreading it to others.
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