Health
Elton John’s vision loss: How an eye infection can cause blindness
World-renowned singer-songwriter Elton John confirmed he has lost sight in his right eye after suffering from a severe infection.
On the opening night of his musical adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada” in London, John shared, “I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight.”
“So, it’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it and, boy, it sounded good tonight,” he said.
ELTON JOHN HAS ‘LOST MY EYESIGHT’ FOLLOWING SEVERE INFECTION
John first posted to his Instagram account in September that he had been dealing with a “severe eye infection” over the summer that has “unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye.”
“Since Sir Elton John did not state what type of eye infection he has, it is unclear whether he has complete blindness in his right eye or if there is still some partial vision,” Dr. Thuy Tran, optometrist and founder of Oculist in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
“It is possible that he may still be able to perceive light and motion, but is unable to discern enough details to read letters or musical notes,” added Tran, who did not treat the singer.
“He may also be experiencing other signs and symptoms, such as thick mucous discharge, pain, irritation, excessive tearing and redness.”
Types of eye infections
The most common types of eye infections are viral conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis, according to Tran.
“Viral conjunctivitis, caused by adenovirus, are like common colds and typically resolve on their own within a few weeks,” he said.
“When caused by herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus (same virus that is responsible for chicken pox and shingles), or cytomegalovirus (seen in immunocompromised individuals i.e. those with HIV/AIDS), more serious complications, such as corneal scarring, retinal damage and vision loss, may result.”
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Bacterial eye infections usually resolve within a week with proper antibiotic treatment, usually eyedrops or ointment, the doctor noted.
“A hyperacute bacterial eye infection, however, can be severe and rapidly progressive,” Tran warned. “If not treated immediately, it can lead to corneal ulcers, scarring and blindness.”
“This condition is most commonly caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a type of bacteria that can be transmitted through sexual contact.”
Fungal eye infections are often caused by fungi that are naturally present in our environment, according to Tran.
“Common risk factors include trauma to the eye with plant material, extended contact lens wear and diabetes,” he said.
Fungal infections are usually treated with topical or oral antifungal therapies.
“Rarely, they can lead to a medically-urgent condition known as endophthalmitis, which often requires hospitalization for administration of intravenous medications.”
Potential for permanent damage
Dr. Derek Cunningham, eye doctor and director of Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, Texas, also spoke with Fox News Digital about the dangers of both internal and external infections in the eyes.
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An internal infection can be caused by a virus, said Cunningham, who also did not treat Elton John. If it reaches the retina, or the back of the eye, permanent vision loss can occur.
More commonly, eye infections are the result of external triggers and trauma to the front of the eye, like scratches, chemical splashes or the misuse of contact lenses, he noted.
These incidents then allow bacteria and other foreign organisms to “colonize in the eye,” Cunningham said.
“Because [the eye] is specifically designed to transmit light, the cellular structure of all the tissues is very precise, and it cannot be altered.”
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“So, any amount of immune response or even bacterial or viral infection is going to cause not only a disruption in the cells, but it could potentially cause scarring – and that is going to reduce vision, very often on a permanent level,” he went on.
While the eye is sensitive and may have a harder time warding off infection since it’s a “compartmentalized” system, Cunningham said, the cornea is also the “fastest-healing tissue in the human body.”
But as people age, the body heals more slowly – so someone like John, who is 77 years old, will be at a higher risk of elongated infection compared to those who are younger.
“A little kid can scratch their eye and within hours be completely healed,” Cunningham said. “In an elderly person, [injury] can last for days, and that’s where the chance of infection builds up – every minute that the tissue is still compromised.”
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Some eye complications can be spotted and addressed early on during routine eye exams.
Cunningham recommends paying attention to visual function – and if vision is compromised, symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor.
“If there is … anything really infectious in the eye, the potential for vision loss is extremely high — and it’s permanent. It very often doesn’t ever come back.”
Representatives for John did not return Fox News Digital’s immediate request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Stanton contributed to this report.
Health
Read the Letter From Nobel Laureates Urging That Mr. Kennedy Not be Confirmed
December 9th, 2024
To Members of the United States Senate:
We, the undersigned Nobel Laureates, are writing to ask you to
oppose the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The proposal to place Mr. Kennedy in charge of the federal agencies
responsible for protecting the health of American citizens and for
conducting the medical research that benefits our country and the
rest of humanity has been widely criticized on multiple grounds. In
addition to his lack of credentials or relevant experience in
medicine, science, public health, or administration, Mr. Kennedy has
been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving
vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio; a critic of
the well-established positive effects of fluoridation of drinking
water; a promoter of conspiracy theories about remarkably
successful treatments for AIDS and other diseases; and a belligerent
critic of respected agencies (especially the Food and Drug
Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National
Institutes of Health). The leader of DHHS should continue to nurture
and improve— not threaten—these important and highly respected
institutions and their employees.
In view of his record, placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would
put the public’s health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global
leadership in the health sciences, in both the public and commercial
sectors.
Health
Dr. Nicole Saphier's 5 foods to boost the immune system this cold and flu season
There are many methods of staying healthy during cold and flu season, including choosing certain foods.
In a Sunday appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier offered some power foods that can help boost the immune system.
“It is certainly cold, flu and COVID season,” she said. “And we want to prevent illness, because once you already get infected, I’ll be honest, there are not a lot of things to relieve some of your cold and flu symptoms.”
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Here are a few immune boosters that can be added to your diet, according to Saphier.
1. Red bell pepper
One whole, raw, red bell pepper has more than twice the daily recommended dose of vitamin C, Saphier stated.
“Vitamin C is obviously great for our immune system,” she said.
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“If you grill it, if you boil it, it does reduce the vitamin C a little bit, but it’s still excellent, it has other nutrients in it.”
Saphier shared that she slices red bell peppers and serves them to her kids “almost every morning before school.”
2. Blueberries
Saphier described blueberries as a “superfood” and “nature’s powerhouse.”
“When it comes to all of your fruits and veggies, this has one of the highest amounts of jam-packed, antioxidant, low-calorie, low-sugar content,” she said.
“Grab a handful – it’s great for you.”
3. Citrus
Citrus foods like oranges and lemons provide a “high amount of vitamins,” according to Saphier.
The doctor warned that citrus does have higher sugar content, so people who are diabetic should be cautious about amounts.
“Especially if you get the pre-packaged, concentrated juice from the store — that has a lot of sugar on it, [so] you have to be careful,” she said.
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The best way to boost citrus intake is to eat it raw or add it to a vitamin-packed juice, according to Saphier.
“I like to make a green version … with spinach, celery, turmeric, ginger, lemon and some other stuff,” she listed. “It’s just jam-packed with vitamins.”
4. Garlic
Although it may be surprising, garlic is “one of the best things for your immune system,” according to Saphier.
The doctor shared that she takes liquid garlic and combines it with other ingredients, like turmeric and ginger, in a juice for an extra immune boost.
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“If your body is as healthy as possible going into cold and flu season, it’s your best bet at staying healthy,” she said.
5. Walnuts
While Saphier didn’t call out walnuts for immune support, she mentioned their benefits for brain and cognitive health.
“People say when you look at walnuts, they look like a little mini brain,” she said.
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“I keep these with me in my office at the hospital,” she added. “They’re really good for you, so obviously you want to keep your body healthy, but your brain healthy as well.”
Saphier explained that organic options are “always the way to go” to avoid exposure to pesticides, hormones and other additives, but they can be a little more expensive.
“If only we could get those prices down, so that they’re more affordable and accessible,” she added.
Health
Red food dye could soon be banned as FDA reviews petition: ‘Scary stuff’
A widely used artificial food dye could soon be outlawed.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving to ban an artificial food coloring called Red No. 3, also known as Erythrosine.
The synthetic dye, which is made from petroleum, is used as a color additive in food and ingested drugs to give them a “bright cherry-red color,” according to an online statement from the FDA.
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“With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and we’re hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition,” Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, told a U.S. Senate health committee on Thursday.
The petition the FDA is reviewing cites the Delaney Clause, which states that the agency cannot classify a color additive as safe if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals, per the FDA’s statement.
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News’ senior medical analyst, joined “Fox and Friends” to discuss the potential ban of the food dye, which he calls “scary stuff.”
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“It’s been banned from skin products since the 1990s,” Siegel pointed out. “So I wonder why is it not allowed in skin products? You know, something you can’t put on your face — yet a kid can eat it.”
Red No. 3 has been banned in the European Union, the U.K., and most of Asia and Australia, the doctor pointed out.
“They’re going to get it out of the food, finally.”
“Why are we so late and why now?” he asked, attributing the move to the fact that “there’s a new marshal in town” — namely, President-elect Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“And Jimmy Jones, who’s the head of FDA food division, is now responding to petitions from the public, from consumers and from the House of Representatives,” Siegel continued.
“And they’re going to get it out of the food, finally.”
The FDA is making this move now, according to Siegel, because “they know it’s going to happen one way or the other. So they want to do it now.”
Potential health effects of Red No. 3
Previous research has raised concerns about potential health risks associated with all nine of the food dyes that are approved in the U.S.
Red No. 3, in particular, has been shown to cause cancer in animal studies.
It has also been linked to an increase in childhood behavioral issues.
“It’s a disgrace that we have nine synthetic dyes in our food in the United States.”
“They’ve studied it in high doses with cancer, but also for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder),” Siegel said.
“All of these food dyes can be related to this — 26 studies seem to have shown it,” he went on.
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“It’s a disgrace that we have nine synthetic dyes in our food in the United States.”
Siegel said the FDA has previously stated “they can’t prove” it causes these conditions.
“They don’t do enough post-market analysis where it’s already on the market,” he said. “They’re not studying it enough.”
Nearly 3,000 foods are shown to contain Red No. 3, according to Food Scores, a database of foods compiled by the Environmental Working Group.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The petition to remove Red No. 3 from foods, supplements and medications was presented by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and 23 other organizations and scientists.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA requesting comment.
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