Last night, at a charity event for the musical “The Devil Wears Prada” in London, Sir Elton John, who wrote some of the music for the show, revealed to the listeners that he could not see the performance.
“As many of you know, I’ve lost my sight,” John said. “It’s hard for me to see, but I like to hear.”
He says the loss of vision is the result of an eye infection he has been suffering from since the summer. Instagram post since September, which has left him with limited vision in one eye.
“Unfortunately I lost the sight in my right eye in July,” said John the conversation with Good Morning America on November 25. “It’s been four months since I was able to see him.”
John has not revealed the cause of his eye infection, but the musician admits he has been struggling.
“I’m stuck at the moment,” John told GMA. “Going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see the lyrics to begin with.”
Despite what he’s going through, John says he’s grateful for the care he’s received and the support around him. In the September post, John said he was feeling positive about his recovery so far.
“I’m on the mend, but it’s a very slow process and it will take some time to get my vision back to normal,” he wrote.
But how does an eye infection turn into blindness? Here’s what you need to know.
What causes eye infections?
You can get eye infections due to bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Eye infections can occur from eye injuries, rubbing your eye after touching a dirty surface, or sleeping on or wearing dirty contact lenses.
What types of eye infections are there?
The most common eye infection is pink eye or conjunctivitis, often caused by the same viruses as the common cold. It causes red eyes with a goopy discharge and is highly contagious, but can be treated at home. Depending on the type of bacteria, you may need antibiotics.
Other types of eye infections include:
Some types of eye infections can lead to blindness, especially if left untreated.
How to spot an eye infection
Here are the symptoms to look out for if you’re worried you have an eye infection:
- Eye pain or irritation
- Red eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Itchy or burning eyes
- Watery or thick discharge
- Swelling and redness of the eyelids
How to prevent eye infections
The Cleveland Clinic recommends the following to reduce the risk of eye infections:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Do not rub your eyes.
- Wear eye protection when working or participating in sports.
- Do not share items that come into contact with the eyes, such as towels or eye makeup.
- Throw away cosmetics after an eye infection to prevent re-infection.
- Clean your contact lenses and contact lens case.
- Take allergy medication to prevent eye irritation.
- Contact an ophthalmologist if you have symptoms of an eye infection.
