From hip replacement surgeries to bacterial infections, Elton John has suffered myriad health issues over the last several years. Most recently, the “I’m Still Standing” star revealed he was battling an intense infection that severely affected his eyesight. Over the weekend, the music legend confirmed he had lost his vision.
“As some of you may know, I have had issues, and now I have lost my sight,” he said onstage. “I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed it.”
Since an Instagram post at the end of the summer, the musician has kept the public updated about his health struggle and battle to recover his vision. Here’s everything the Rocketman has shared about losing his eyesight.
John reveals ‘severe’ eye infection
In an Instagram post on Sept. 3, John revealed that he experienced a “severe” eye infection over the summer that had limited vision in one eye. The infection happened as he spent time in the south of France.
“I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye,” he said. “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,” he added.
John jokes that ‘there’s not much of me left’
The artist joked about his health woes while speaking at the New York premiere of his documentary film Elton John: Never Too Late.
“I don’t have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don’t have a prostate. I don’t have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee,” he said, according to People. “In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip.”
“To be honest with you, there’s not much of me left,” he added. “But I’m still here. And I can’t thank you [enough], you’re the people that made me.”
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John says he has ‘hope’ about recovering his vision
The musician visited Good Morning America on Nov. 25, and when asked about new music, he said it had “been a while since I’ve done anything” because of his vision loss.
“There’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment… going into the studio and recording, I don’t know,” he said, explaining that he cannot read lyrics or watch anything.
John confirms: ‘I’ve lost my sight’
During the premiere of West End debut of the Devil Wears Prada musical on Dec. 1, the music legend revealed that he’s completely lost his vision.
“As some of you may know, I have had issues, and now I have lost my sight,” John said onstage at London’s Dominion Theatre. “I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed it.”
“To my husband, who’s been my rock because I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews,” he added, “It’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it, and it sounded good tonight.”
John made his way on and off the stage with the assistance of his husband, David Furnish.
