Sir Elton John has given an update on his health after a serious eye infection left him with limited vision in one eye.
The 77-year-old music legend revealed that he lost the sight in his right eye over the summer in France and as a result can no longer see, read or view anything.
Speaking to ABC News on Monday about his new documentary Never Too Late, Elton admitted he was unsure of his ability to record new music as he focuses all his attention on his health.
He said, “It’s been a while since I’ve done anything. I just need to get off my butt. Unfortunately, I lost my sight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France.
‘It’s been four months since I’ve been unable to see. And my left eye isn’t the best. So there is hope and encouragement that things will work out, but I’m a bit 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 any lyrics to begin with.
“We’re taking an initiative to get it better, but right now we’re really focusing on that.”
Sir Elton John has given an update on his health after a serious eye infection left him with limited vision in one eye
The musical legend, 77, revealed he lost the sight in his right eye over the summer in France and as a result can no longer see, read or view anything (pictured earlier this month)
Elton spoke to ABC News on Monday about his new documentary Never Too Late and admitted he was unsure of his ability to record new music as he puts all his focus on his health.
The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter continued candidly, “It’s never luck that something like this can happen. And it kind of confused me and I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything.”
However, Elton showed his inherent positive attitude and expressed his gratitude for his life, saying: ‘I’m so lucky, I’m the luckiest man in the world.
‘I’m so proud of the documentary, I’m proud of my sons, I’m proud of my attitude towards myself and what’s going on. I’m just very lucky and very grateful.’
In addition to his current vision problems, Elton has been dealing with a host of other health issues, having had both knees and his right hip replaced following a fall, which forced him to postpone his 2021 farewell tour.
The Rocket Man hitmaker, who played his final shows last summer, revealed his vision problems in September.
He posted a lengthy post on his Instagram, explaining how he has been “recovering at home” for the past few months.
Elton wrote: ‘Over the summer I suffered a serious eye infection which unfortunately leaves me with limited vision in one eye.
‘I am healing, but it is an extremely slow process and it will take some time for vision to return to the affected eye.
‘I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family who have looked after me so well over the past few weeks.’
The Rocket Man hitmaker, who played his final shows last summer, revealed his vision problems in September with an Instagram post, explaining how he has been ‘recovering at home’ in recent months.
In addition to his current vision problems, Elton has been dealing with a host of other health issues, having had both knees and his right hip replaced following a fall, which forced him to postpone his 2021 farewell tour (pictured in 2022).
Elton concluded: ‘I have spent the summer quietly recuperating at home, and I feel positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery so far.’
It comes after the EGOT winner admitted: ‘I don’t know how much time I have left’ as he opened up about death in his new documentary last month.
In a scene from Never Too Late, Elton reflected on his own mortality as he confessed that he often thinks about life and death.
The mirror In a scene from the film, the musician sits in the dressing room during his last tour and looks at his possessions.
He then admits: “I wonder what’s going to happen to all this stuff when I’m done? This is the last time of my life. I don’t know how much time I have left.
‘You think about that more when you’re my age. You think about life and death. You think, “Well, I just want to be where I want to be right now.”‘
He added: “I don’t have to work anymore after this. I’ll work and make records and put together radio shows, but traveling takes so much out of you.
‘It’s very tiring. I’m used to it. I’m a veteran at it, but this is where you start thinking about mortality.”
It comes after the EGOT winner admitted: ‘I don’t know how much time I have left’ as he opened up about death in his new documentary last month
Elton’s new Disney+ documentary and musical looks back at his astonishing life in the early days of his fifty-year career (pictured performing at Glastonbury 2023)
Elton’s new Disney+ documentary and musical is a look back at his astonishing life in the early days of his fifty-year career.
The film features never-before-seen footage, including a look at his handwritten diaries, the audio tapes of the historic Rolling Stone interview, and John Lennon joining him on stage for three songs after his 1974 Thanksgiving show at Madison Square Garden.
Ahead of his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium in November 2022, Elton takes viewers back in time to share the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of his early years and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction .
At a screening of the documentary in New York last month, he joked: “To be honest, there’s not much of me left.
‘I don’t have tonsils, tonsils or appendix. I don’t have a prostate. I don’t have a right hip, left knee or right knee.
‘Basically the only thing I have left is my left hip. But I’m still here. And I can’t thank you [enough]you are the people who made me.”
Directed by RJ Cutler and Elton’s husband David Furnish, the film will be released in theaters this month before hitting Disney+ on December 13 (David and Elton pictured last month)
Directed by RJ Cutler and Elton’s husband David Furnish, the film will be released in theaters this month before arriving on Disney+ on December 13.
Elton and David, 62, share sons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11. Speaking about his boys, Elton admitted: ‘They’re worried because they know how old I am. Not so much David, but me.
“They love their dad, so they want me to be there forever. I want to be there forever. I want them to have kids and get married, but I don’t think I’ll be around for that. Who knows? You never know.
“So that’s why I want to make the most of my time while I’m around. Our time together is so wonderful and so precious.”