Elton John on ‘distressing’ sight loss as he is unable to see his boys play

Sir Elton John has said losing his eyesight has been “distressing” and emotional for him.

The British superstar, 78, revealed in a social media post last year that a “severe eye infection” had left him “with only limited vision in one eye”.

He told The Times he “can’t see the telly” and he has not “been able to see anything since last July”.

Sir Elton added: “I can’t read. I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up. It’s distressing.

“You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I’m lucky to have the life I have. I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of here.”

He said that “you say to yourself, just get on with it”.

Sir Elton has previously said his eye issues have impacted his ability to record music and left him feeling “stuck”.

However, he recently recorded Who Believes In Angels?, a collaboration with US singer Brandi Carlile, which saw Sir Elton work with producer Andrew Watt and his long-term songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.

Sir Elton also said he became “frustrated” when “they stood up to me”.

He said: “If I want to make a great album aged 76 or 77 I’ve got to be told and they put up with my little foibles, which were really about anxiety, self-doubt and not feeling very well at the time. I was tired so I thought, I’m going to abandon this.

“The problem was three other people were involved and I knew that if I walked away from it I would hate myself for the rest of my life.”

Before the album’s release on Friday, Sir Elton and Carlile hosted an evening of performance and storytelling at the London Palladium on March 26.

His headline set at Glastonbury in 2023 had previously been his last UK performance as part of his 330-date Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which ended with an emotionally charged show in Stockholm, Sweden.

In January he achieved his ninth UK number one album with Diamonds, a greatest hits compilation, and last year achieved so-called EGOT status after earning an Emmy, following his Grammy, Oscar and Tony award wins.

He bagged the best variety special live Emmy for Elton Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium in 2024.

Sir Elton has two children, Zachary and Elijah, with his husband, filmmaker David Furnish.

Published: 05/04/2025 by Radio NewsHub