Elton John 'devastated' he can't 'see, watch or read anything' after losing eyesight

by India McTaggart

Sir Elton John has said it has been "devastating" that he is unable to "see anything, watch anything, read anything" since losing his eyesight.

The 78-year-old singer-songwriter has spoken about the "challenging" readjustment he has faced following an infection that made him blind in his right eye and led to partial sight loss in his left.

Speaking to Variety about the condition, he said: "It's been devastating, because I lost my right eye and my left eye's not so good.

"The last 15 months have been challenging for me because I haven't been able to see anything, watch anything, read anything."

He first told fans he had lost his eyesight last summer, after contracting an infection while on holiday in the south of France.

A year ago, he lamented the "slow process" of healing as his sight loss derailed his new album Who Believes in Angels?, which he released earlier this year with Brandi Carlile.

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The musician, who has retired from touring but still performs private shows, said he was "terrified" that his failing eyesight would mean he would not be able to play the piano any more.

Sir Elton said: "I'll have done 11 private shows by the end of the year, which I've never done in my life – some solo, some with the band.

"And it's been fun, because I was terrified I wouldn't be able to see the piano keys or the microphone. And I can see, because everything's so close up.

"What I can't see when I'm playing with the band is the band, which is a bit of a nightmare. I can't see Nigel [Olsson], the drummer, so I have to have Davey [Johnstone, his lead guitarist] or somebody say, 'OK, this is where it ends' and make sure we're in sync."

The Rocket Man singer admitted it was still difficult to go and see others perform, because he "can't really see what's going on", but David Furnish, his husband, said he could still offer tips to the artists afterwards.

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After the couple saw Carlile at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the performer gave her some advice.

"You were giving Brandi lighting notes," Furnish told his husband, adding: "You were in the back of the box at the other end of the Albert Hall, and you were giving her lighting notes! Which I just love."

Sir Elton acknowledged that though the ordeal "gets me down sometimes", he was lucky and grateful to still be able to do what he loves.

He said: "I've still been able to play. I'm still singing. We did the Singapore Grand Prix the other day with the band, which was wonderful.

"I mean, you just have to grin and bear it. It does get me down sometimes. But on the whole, I've got a wonderful family; I have two great kids; I have him [Furnish]."

He added: "Paul McCartney FaceTimes me to see how I'm doing. It's really beautiful. The love I've received from him and from Pete Townshend and Mick Jagger and people like that has been amazing.

"Or you get an email from Keith Richards saying, 'Hello, darling, how you doing? You know we love you,' and that's it, but it just makes my day."

The artist added that he was singing "better than I've ever done before" and would continue to produce new material.

"Music has been my whole life and has given me so much and takes me on journeys that I never thought I would ever go on – and it's still doing that," he said. "I just can't wait to go into the studio now and write some new songs and go from there."

© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2025

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Title: Elton John 'devastated' he can't 'see, watch or read anything' after losing eyesight
Sourced From: celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/elton-john-vision-loss-devastated-cant-see-watch-read-anything-losing-eyesight/95d29752-5374-4ed5-be2e-7201c2c44389
Published Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:11:00 GMT