Elton John sits in his Windsor home knowing the world still sings his songs, even if he can no longer see the faces singing them back. The 78‑year‑old superstar has revealed he is now completely blind in his right eye and has only limited vision in his left after a severe infection last year, calling the experience “devastating” and “distressing”.
Sudden illness, lasting damage
The eye infection struck in mid‑2024 while Elton was on holiday in the south of France, rapidly affecting both eyes and forcing urgent treatment from specialists in Europe and the UK. Doctors were able to save some vision in his left eye, but his right eye was left permanently blind, and he now describes the last 15 months as a time when he hasn’t been able to properly read, watch television or enjoy the everyday sights most people take for granted.
Family at the centre
Behind the headlines is a family working quietly to adjust. Elton’s husband, filmmaker David Furnish, says experts have managed to make “some improvements” in Elton’s left eye, and the couple are exploring every option modern medicine can offer. The singer has spoken emotionally about no longer being able to clearly see his sons Zachary and Elijah playing rugby and football, describing that loss of simple family moments as one of the hardest blows of his condition.
Mates who keep calling
If his eyesight has faded, the support around him has not. Elton says close friends including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger and The Who legend Pete Townshend regularly check in on him, often via FaceTime so he can see their faces up close on an iPad screen. Younger stars like Chappell Roan and Brandi Carlile are also just a tap away, with Elton calling Carlile “one of my best friends” and crediting this circle of musicians with lifting his spirits when the situation gets him down.
Still on stage, still planning
Despite stepping back from full‑scale touring after his 330‑date Farewell Yellow Brick Road run and a triumphant Glastonbury headline slot in 2023, Elton is not ready to disappear from the stage. He has agreed to headline a major festival in Brazil in 2026 and has continued to appear at high‑profile events, including awards shows and music industry gatherings, even as he navigates red carpets and stages with low vision.
Hope in science and AI
Furnish says the family places its hope in the rapid advances being made in eye medicine, from AI‑driven diagnostic tools to emerging treatments that could one day improve sight in damaged eyes. Elton himself talks about “being patient” and trusting that “someday science will help” his remaining eye, choosing to see his extraordinary career and family life as a blessing rather than dwell on what he has lost.
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