ELTON JOHN HAS been put through the wringer in recent years. First a bacterial infection sent him to the ICU and resulted in the cancellation of a number of his shows. Then his 2021 farewell tour was postponed after a hip injury forced him to undergo hip replacement surgery. Now Sir Elton is facing another health issue: an eye infection that has caused the loss of his eyesight.
At the opening of The Devil Wears Prada musical, for which he wrote the score, Elton took to the stage to deliver an emotional speech. The 77-year-old said that while the performance had sounded good, he hadn’t been able to see it.
“As some of you may know I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven’t been able to see the performance but I have enjoyed it,” said. “I love to hear it,” he added, to a chorus of applause.
Elton previously spoke about his trouble with an eye infection back in August when he told Good Morning America that he couldn’t see out of his right eye and that his left eye was “not the greatest”. He also said that he was struggling to read or watch anything and that his condition was keeping him out of the studio, where he was previously working on a new album. “It’s been a while since I’ve done anything,” he said. “There’s hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment.” It seems that his condition has worsened since then.
Earlier this year, Elton also ruminated on nearing the end of his life in his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. “This is the latter time of my life. I don’t know how much time I have left,” he said.
What causes an eye infection?
Like any infection, most eye infections are caused by bacteria. You can be exposed to this bacteria in a variety of ways, including not properly cleaning your contact lenses, touching germs on a surface and then touching your eyes, eye injuries and exposure to chemicals in swimming pools.
How common are eye infections?
Eye infections are common, affecting around one in 300 people every year. They do not become more common with age.
Some eye infections are relatively minor, like conjunctivitis. Others, like a corneal ulcer or Endophthalmitis can be more serious. Elton John has not specified what kind of eye infection he is suffering from.
How common is loss of eyesight?
It is estimated that over 13 million Australians (roughly 50 per cent of the population) have a chronic eye condition, but this includes minor conditions like long and short sightedness. 131,000 Australians have either complete or partial blindness, and visual impairment does become more common with age. Around 9.4 per cent of Australians aged over 55 suffer from visual impairment.
What can you do to reduce the risk of losing eyesight?
There are a number of ways you can reduce your risk of visual impairment. First and foremost, regular visits to an expert to get an eye exam is the best way to prevent loss of eyesight. Most eye infections can be cured before causing serious harm if they are detected early.
It is also important to remember that in Australia our eyes face heightened sun and UV exposure, which can be damaging. Wearing protective sunglasses is a simple way to combat this. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet will also minimise the risk of developing a condition that can cause eye damage.
Lastly, and worryingly considering the increasing ubiquity of screens, reducing instances of eye strain (like reading a book or looking at your computer or phone for extended periods) will greatly reduce your risk of visual impairment.
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