‘I can’t see a lyric’: Elton John partially lost sight after eye infection

Legendary singer-songwriter Elton John has said he had to delay the release of his upcoming album due to an eye infection that has significantly impaired his vision.

Speaking on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday, the 77-year-old said he has not been able to see out of his right eye for four months, impacting his ability to work.

Elton John lost sight in his right eye following a severe eye infection.Credit: AP

“I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France … And my left eye’s not the greatest,” he said. “I’m kind of stuck at the moment because I can do something like this [interview], but going into the studio and recording, I don’t know because I can’t see a lyric for a start.”

During a speech at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame ceremony last year, John revealed he had a new album on the way with lyricist Bernie Taupin. It would mark his first studio album including all original material since Wonderful Crazy Night in 2016. However, his eye infection has delayed its release.

“It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen, and it kind of floored me. I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything,” John said.

The pop star is undergoing unspecified treatment and remains optimistic he will recover. “There’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK. At the moment, that’s really what we’re concentrating on.”

The interview comes almost three months after he told fans on social media that he had contracted a severe eye infection that left him with limited sight in the impacted eye. “I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process,” he wrote on Instagram in September.

Despite his impaired vision, John has made multiple appearances over the past few months, including joining pop star Dua Lipa on stage at her Royal Albert Hall concert in October, where they performed their popular duet Cold Heart.

The EGOT winner, who retired from touring last year, also attended the premiere of his new Disney+ documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, in both London and Toronto. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the documentary tracks John’s 50-year career, as he prepared for his final concert at the Dodger Stadium in the US.

“I’m so proud of the documentary. I’m proud of my sons. I’m proud of my attitude toward myself and what’s going on,” he said. “I’m just very lucky and I’m very grateful.”

John became an EGOT winner at the 2023 Emmy Awards in January after winning the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category. However, he was unable to attend as he was recovering from knee replacement surgery, which he underwent at the beginning of the year. He had a second knee replacement on his other knee in March.

“To be honest with you, there’s not much of me left,” he joked while at a screening of his documentary at the New York Film Festival in October.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.