Music legend Elton John astonished fans by revealing that a severe eye infection has left him completely blind. The 77-year-old singer-songwriter shared the devastating news during a gala performance of his musical ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ in London, confessing he was physically incapable of watching the show he scored. This shocking revelation comes just weeks after John disclosed that an eye infection contracted in France last July had already impaired his right eye, leaving him with only ‘limited vision’ in his left.
“Even though I’ve lost my sight, I’ve enjoyed listening to the performance,” said Sir Elton, renowned for his flamboyant eyewear. He contracted the severe eye infection while in France last July. What initially seemed like a minor health inconvenience turned into a life-altering condition, demonstrating the serious impact some eye infections can have.
Eye infections can range from mild conditions like conjunctivitis to more severe ones that can lead to vision loss and in rare cases, complete blindness. It’s crucial to spot the early warning signs of such infections to avoid irreversible damage to the eyes.
In addition to his sight issues, John also shared that his new music album has been put on hold due to his inability to see lyrics. The singer, known for his indomitable spirit, remains optimistic about overcoming this challenge with time.
Elton John’s husband David Furnish, 62, has been a pillar of support during these trying times. The couple, who entered into a civil partnership in 2005 and married nine years later when same-sex marriage became legal in the UK, have two sons together.
But how does one prevent suffering the same fate as Sir Elton? The first line of defense is awareness. Conjunctivitis, for instance, is a common eye infection that causes blood vessels in the conjunctiva — the thin outermost membrane surrounding your eyeball — to become infected by bacteria or a virus and dilate. Most viral conjunctivitis settles in two to three days, but some can last for two to three weeks.
In severe cases of conjunctivitis, there could be significant eyelid swelling and redness of the eye. If left untreated, corneal infiltrates are one possible complication which can cause pain and cloudy vision. This can subsequently lead to corneal melting — when layers of cornea dissolve putting patients at risk of ulcers.
Another rarer eye infection, Uveitis, can also lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. The condition is an inflammation of the uvea — the central layer of the eyeball that transports blood to the retina and transmits images to the brain.
Contact lens wearers are at a greater risk of one other eye infection, acanthamoeba keratitis. The infection causes the front surface of the eye, the cornea, to become painful and inflamed. It gets into the eye while bathing or showering, and if contacts are being worn during these activities, the chances of infection increase dramatically.
Experts advise anyone experiencing any early symptoms of eye infections to stop wearing contact lenses and get in touch with their GP or optometrist right away. This advice could be crucial in preventing severe damage to vision, as experienced by Sir Elton John.
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