Elton John reveals horrifying full extent of eye injury that's left him without sight
Elton John losing sight in his right eye that has left him losing some of his usual creativity and unable to watch new film
Elton John has been left "distressed" after losing sight in his right eye, which has impacted his creativity and left him unable to read.
Elton recently revealed a severe eye infection left him with limited vision in one eye. Asked about the infection, Elton said last week: "What's happened with my eye has been very distressing. Because I'm used to getting up in the morning, looking at all the newspapers, looking at the charts, looking at everything, how the world is doing creatively. And I've lost that for the time being.
"It's been seven weeks since I've been able to see any of this. But the prospect is good. I had a hell of a time with this right eye. It's a hell of a bug that got into it. And sometimes I feel forlorn. But most of the time I feel grateful that I've still got it. And I just have to be patient. And I've had so much support. So I'm always optimistic.
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"At the weekend when I was walking around backstage, when I'm walking around at home I know where I'm going. Last night, backstage, all the, you know, getting up, no lights, everything, I found it really quite hard. But I had to be here to support the film. I had to be here. This is the first time I have been out in seven weeks. And it was worth it to support RJ and David."
Elton was speaking at Toronto international film festival where he is promoting the world premiere of documentary film Elton John: Never Too Late from co-directors RJ Cutler and Furnish.
His appearance at the world premiere came days after he shared the health announcement with almost 5 million fans on Instagram.
“Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye,” he wrote.
“I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.
“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.”
The film is billed as a portrait of the singer as he “looks back on his life and forward to a climactic farewell show at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium”.
Elton admitted he struggled to watch the documentary because of his eye, explaining: "I couldn't really see it because of my eye, but I sensed it, I'd seen it before. I don't know, seeing it with an audience is far more emotional than just seeing it with a bunch of people. And I got more out of it than I did when I saw it the first time. And it hit harder. And I really, really enjoyed it.
"The first time I squirmed a bit because I don't like seeing myself on stage very much or on film. But I enjoyed it. I enjoyed everything about it."
He went on: "And I forget certain things, but some of the old footage was quite remarkable because that was the lead vocal of Candle In The Wind.
"And I just found myself looking so wistful. And it wasn't a pleasant time for me, as the film said at the time we were writing it. I tend to look forward so much that I don't look back. And so when you look back at the footage of some of the playing and the juggling and the studio stuff, you think 'Oh we weren't bad'.
"I wasn't expecting to because I find myself difficult to watch myself. But no, I really, really found the audience was so warm and loving."
He added: "What made me emotional? Talking about my family, talking about my children, talking about how my life is now compared to what it was in 1975.
"I've been through a hell of a lot. I mean, you name it. I've been through the highs, the lows, the highs, the lows, the highs. But it's been an amazing life. It's been an amazing journey. And the great thing about it is I've learned and I've recovered from my mistakes. And I've had wonderful people in the latter few years to help me do that, especially this man here, my husband and my children."
Elton then noted: "And the whole purpose of doing this farewell tour was to say farewell. And to say I'm coming off the road.
"When we finished, we didn't finish in Los Angeles. We finished after Glastonbury in Britain a year afterwards. We finished in Stockholm. And I got in the back of the car and I went, 'Yes! I don't have to do this again. I've done it and I want to go on a high'. And Los Angeles, Dodgers Stadium was a high.
"Glastonbury was amazing. I was proud of the way I told the band at the film how proud I was of the way they played. They played amazingly throughout the whole tour. And we ended on a high and that's what I wanted to do."
Elton has enjoyed huge success for 50 years himself, but asked about more recent phenomenon Taylor Swift, he said she is the biggest music star since the Beatles.
Asked about the prospect of a duo, Elton said: "With Taylor Swift? I don't have no problems with singing with Taylor Swift. She's a great songwriter. She's a great artist. And she's a phenomenon. I've never seen a phenomenon like that since The Beatles. And she works her ass off. So good luck to her."
The doting dad also said: "Well Brandi Carlile collaborated with me on the song for the film, Never Too Late. And so that was someone I really wanted to sing with. I've known her for 20 years and I love her. She's one of our best friends.
"There are plenty of young singers around. I mean, it's been a summer and a year of the great female singers and songwriters with Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie XCX, Gracie Abrams. They've just ruled it. And they've made records that are really good songs. And they've brought a lot of joy to the people. And the songs are really good songs. So I'm happy to sing with any of those people."
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