The 5 nasty infections that can leave you blind – as Elton John reveals ‘I’ve lost my eyesight’
ELTON John has shocked fans by revealing he has lost his eyesight following a severe infection.
The Your Song singer suffered an infection in the summer which rendered him blind in his right eye – with his vision “not the best” in his left.
The much-loved 77-year-old revealed at the gala performance of the Devil Wears Prada: “I have lost my sight and haven’t been able to see in the performance.”
He also shared that his worsening eyesight has delayed work on his new album.
Eye infections are pretty common and usually easy to spot – but some can take a nasty turn.
They can trigger redness, itching, swelling or even blurred vision.
Most clear up with drops, antibiotics or antihistamines, but some cases can lead to blindness
1. Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Having red bloodshot eyes is fairly normal and usually just suggests you’re tired or have had too many heavy nights out.
But if you’re also experiencing grittiness, stickiness and burning or some watery yellow discharge coming from your eye, there might be something more serious going on.
Doctor Nisa Aslam, a GP and adviser to Golden Eye – which sells eye drops – explains what could be causing your red eye and when it’s worth seeking out help.
“Conjunctivitis is very common and the reason for one in 10 consultations in GP surgeries,” Dr Nisa explained.
It happens when the eyes become infected, but it can also result from allergies or exposure to chemicals, such as chlorine in swimming pools.
Most of the time, it doesn’t cause any permanent problems and will clear on its own within a few weeks.
Sometimes, it required antibiotic eye drops and over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines to clear.
In rare cases, when the infection is really severe it can lead to vision loss or blindness.
2. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
The herpes simplex virus type 1 is best known as the villain behind the dreaded cold sore.
When it’s not triggering eruptions of ugly crusty sores on the mouth, it takes refuge in the bundle of nerves that run through the face.
And it’s very common.
Roughly 70 per cent of Brits harbour lifelong infections of HSV-1 – largely without any nasty flair-ups – which are typically harmless.
However, in some cases, HSV-1 can do far more than stop people from wanting to kiss or share cups with you for a few weeks.
It can infect the eye and sometimes lead to blindness.
The virus infects the cornea, forming tree-like branching ulcers across the eye.
It can cause irritation, pain, sensitivity to light, and ultimately blindness if untreated, the NHS says.
Herpes in the eye is a leading cause of blindness in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The cornea, after all, is a transparent layer of tissue at the front of the eye, whose job is essentially to let in as much light as possible.
Infection can turn the cornea cloudy — permanently.
Common symptoms of a herpes simplex eye infection can include:
- A red eye
- Eye pain
- Swelling around the eye
- Sensitivity to bright light
- A watering eye
- Blurred vision
The 9 things your EYES can reveal about your health
THEY may be the window to your soul, but it turns out your eyes can also be a window to your overall health.
While your vision might change as the years advance, a study published this month found poor eyesight that is left untreated could increase your risk of dementia by 19 per cent.
Scientists at the John Hopkins University in the US said around half of cases of the debilitating disease could be prevented if people wore glasses or hearing aids.
And it’s not just your eyesight that’s worth tracking – from itchiness to lumps and bumps, there are other eye-related symptoms to watch for.
Eyesight is something people tend to accept gets worse with age and they wouldn’t be wrong – 70 per cent of Brits said they had noticed their eyes deteriorating with age, according to a survey by eye supplement brand MacuShield.
Some 75 per cent of Brits want to keep their eyesight as good as possible for their quality of life and more than half said vision was important to them to remain independent.
Experts tell writer Clare O’Reilly what our eyes could be trying to tell us, from an aneurysm to a brain tumour.
Click here to read the full story.
3. Toxoplasmosis
A parasite found in your cat’s soiled litter tray could leave you blind.
Toxoplasma gondii, also known as toxi, infects more than a third of the world’s people.
It typically spreads through undercooked meat food or water contaminated by infected cat waste.
In most cases, the parasite is harmless, and much-hyped claims that it affects human behaviour are weak.
Recent research has suggested the parasite might be able to trigger schizophrenia-related disorders in humans.
But we do know it is dangerous when it passes from mother to fetus, causing blindness, developmental problems, hydrocephalus, and other disabilities.
4. Trachoma
Trachoma, a sneaky bacterial infection, starts off as a bit of eye irritation.
But it can snowball into blindness if untreated.
The bug is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It was once a serious health issue in the UK, but now many of the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
It’s caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, often spreading though hands, towels or flies.
Repeated infections make your eyelids scar, causing your eyelashes to flip inward.
This means your lashes start scraping against your cornea like tiny sandpaper strips.
Over time, this damages the cornea, leading to clouding and eventually blindness.
Signs and symptoms of trachoma usually affect both eyes and may include:
- Mild itching and irritation of the eyes and eyelids
- Eye discharge containing mucus or pus
- Eyelid swelling
- Light sensitivity (photophobia)
- Eye pain
- Eye redness
- Vision loss
Trachoma can be treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection.
This antibiotic is also recommended for the contacts of the person being treated as it can be very infectious.
5. Keratitis
The cornea is like the clear, curved shield of your eye, sitting right over the pupil and iris.
If it gets infected or injured, it can lead to keratitis, swelling and irritation.
The culprits? Anything from bacteria and viruses to fungi, parasites, or even a scratch.
People who wear contact lenses while swimming, or in the shower, are most at risk of the infection.
This is because the parasite that causes the infections are found in tap water, among other places.
The trouble starts when the parasite sneaks between your contact lens and cornea, setting the stage for an infection.
It eats into the cornea, causing severe pain and in some cases, blindness.
Common symptoms of keratitis are:
- Red eye
- Foreign body sensation in the eye
- Eye pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Decrease in vision
Keratitis treatment depends on the cause of the infection, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial medicines can be used to clear the infection.
FOODS TO HELP EYE HEALTH
CLINICAL nutritionist Suzie Sawyer from MacuShield says there are lots of foods you can eat that can help boost your eye health.
SALMON FOR OMEGA-3: “It’s this fatty acid that’s really beneficial to our eyes, particularly the cells in the retina. Other oily fish include mackerel, sardines and trout.”
EGGS FOR VITAMIN B2: “There are eight B vitamins in total, and B2 in particular helps maintain normal vision. Other foods rich in B2 are Greek yoghurt, white mushrooms, meat and feta.”
SPINACH AND KALE FOR MACULAR CAROTENOIDS: “Macular carotenoids are found in the macular, which is a part of the retina at the back of the eye that ensures we have clear, sharp vision necessary for reading and driving.”
PRAWNS FOR ZINC: “Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal vision. Other zinc-rich foods include red meat, poultry, oysters, other seafood, nuts, dried beans, soy foods, milk, wholegrains, liver, dried beans and peas.”
ORANGES FOR VITAMIN C: “Vitamin C isn’t just good for immune health, it also aids collagen formation. This helps blood vessels and maintains the layers of connective tissue in the eye. Berries, kiwis, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and other citrus fruits are great too.”