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Elton John’s vision loss: How an eye infection can cause blindness

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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

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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.

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“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.” 

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“This condition is most commonly caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a type of bacteria that can be transmitted through sexual contact.”

Bacterial eye infections usually resolve within a week with proper antibiotic treatment, usually eyedrops or ointment. (iStock)

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. 

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“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.

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elton john on stage

Elton John speaks onstage during the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on Nov. 3, 2023, in New York City. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

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.”

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Doctor performs an eye examination on a patient

Eye infections are more likely to affect the elderly, according to an expert. (iStock)

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.

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elderly man rubbing eyes under eyeglasses

If vision is compromised, symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor, an expert recommended. (iStock)

“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.

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‘Disease X’ has killed dozens in the Congo — here’s what to know about the mystery illness

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‘Disease X’ has killed dozens in the Congo — here’s what to know about the mystery illness

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An outbreak of a mystery illness dubbed “Disease X” has killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), health officials say.

Up to 143 people have died from the infectious disease, the country’s deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

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The deaths occurred in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25, AP reported this week.

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Primary symptoms include fever, headache, cough and difficulty breathing.

Most of those affected are children younger than 5 years old.

An outbreak of a mysterious illness dubbed “Disease X” has killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), health officials say. (iStock)

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“At the Emergency Operation Center for Public Health and at the INSP [National Institute of Public Health] — which is in maximum alert mode — we’ve already positioned central-level teams who will leave within 24 hours to join the [local] health zone,” said Dr. Dieudonné Mwamba, the director general of INSP, speaking in French at a press briefing on Thursday.

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The DRC’s provincial health minister, Apollinaire Yumba, urged residents to be cautious and to avoid contact with dead bodies to prevent infection, AP reported. 

The country is also requesting medical supplies.

“There is a lack of medicines and medical supplies, since the disease is not yet known.”

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The first cases of Disease X were reported on Oct. 24, but health authorities were not notified until Dec. 1, according to reports.

Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke at a press conference on Thursday.

     

“We have a delay of almost five to six weeks, and in five to six weeks, so many things can happen,” Kaseya said. 

“Ongoing testing will help us to understand what is the issue.”

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Congo

Up to 143 people have died from the infectious disease, the country’s deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told the Associated Press on Tuesday. (iStock)

Lucien Lufutu, president of the civil society consultation framework of Kwango province, who is in Panzi, told the AP that the local hospital is not equipped to treat the influx of ill patients.

“There is a lack of medicines and medical supplies, since the disease is not yet known, most of the population is treated by traditional practitioners,” he said.

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When contacted by Fox News Digital, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is aware of reports of an illness in southwest DRC.  

“U.S. government staff, including those from U.S. CDC’s country office in Kinshasa, are in contact with DRC’s Ministry of Health and stand ready to provide additional support if needed,” a spokesperson said.

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Disease X

The first cases of Disease X were reported on Oct. 24, but health authorities were not notified until Dec. 1, according to reports. (iStock)

The Congo is already grappling with an ongoing outbreak of mpox, a viral disease caused by an orthopoxvirus. A global emergency was declared in August.

In recent weeks, health officials have reported between 200 and 300 confirmed mpox cases weekly, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Fox News Digital also reached out to the Africa CDC and WHO requesting additional comment.

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Family with Down syndrome son went from shock to gratitude: 'Lost the air in my chest'

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Family with Down syndrome son went from shock to gratitude: 'Lost the air in my chest'

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“I literally felt like I’d lost the air in my chest. I couldn’t speak.”

That was the immediate reaction of a Florida dad and entrepreneur when he learned during an urgent phone call from his wife — who was pregnant with their fourth child and had just finished talking with a doctor — that their new baby might be born with Down syndrome.

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“I was sad. I was angry. I was frustrated,” said Aric Berquist, who shared his thoughts in a video (see the video at the top of this article) and in an interview with Fox News Digital. 

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Berquist said that on the phone call, he “wanted to stay calm” for the sake of his wife, Gretchen, “who was teary” as the couple talked over the news. 

After they hung up, as he struggled with his emotions, he said, “I just felt this, heard this voice say, ‘Who are you to tell me what a blessing is?’”

Aric Berquist’s son, Asher, is shown at age 9 tossing a football with his dad at home. Said Berquist about the day his son was born, “I really do feel that on that day, treasure was put in my hands.” (Aric Berquist/The Lesson)

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The deeply faithful Christian parent said the voice “wasn’t angry. It felt strong, and it felt safe — and it was so shocking that all of my arm hairs were raised to the point that it hurt.”

And he found himself “just bursting into tears.”

A subsequent ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of Down syndrome for their new baby — and the couple did all they could to prepare themselves, and their older children, for the baby’s arrival. 

“He continues to teach me more about life and myself than I could ever dream of articulating.”

That year, the dad said, “Asher was born. And I really do feel that on that day, treasure was put in my hands.”

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Berquist described the joy he believes their youngest has brought the entire family — both from the time he was born and up to the present day, including at the recent wedding of their daughter, the oldest of their four children. 

“That kid has literally changed my life in an amazing way,” he said. 

Berquist family

The Berquist family at the recent wedding of daughter Abby, center. Youngest child Asher is shown at right, front.  (Berquist family)

The couple’s youngest is 13 years old today and in sixth grade.

“And he continues to teach me more about life and myself than I could ever dream of articulating.”

He “loves sports,” added Berquist. “He’ll play flag football and he’s done soccer. He loves to play sports with his two older brothers, Andrew and Adam.”

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“He is available to everyone he engages with.”

He said his son Asher’s bond with brother Adam — the sibling closest to him in age — “is one of the richest and most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” 

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Their youngest “occupies the current moment like nobody I have ever met,” Berquist also said. “He is present. And he is available to everyone he engages with.”

He makes others feel “acknowledged. And I’m starting to think that we, as the ‘typical people,’ have the disabilities — not him.”

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Aric Berquist and son

“It’s been really wonderful to see how he’s developed — just his growth within each phase,” said Aric Berquist of his youngest child.  (Aric Berquist/The Lesson)

Today, Berquist also told Fox News Digital, “he’s doing so well. It’s been really wonderful to see how he’s developed — just his growth within each phase. But more than that, it’s been really touching as a parent to see how he’s connected with so many people in his life. It’s been beautiful to watch.”

Changes in development

Heart problems are a concern for children with Down syndrome — and young Asher had bypass surgery within the first three months of his life, his family said. After a week in the hospital, he returned home to his parents and siblings. 

Down syndrome is a condition in which a baby is born with an extra chromosome. 

Chromosomes determine how the body forms and functions. Those born with an extra one experience changes in the way the body and brain develop.

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A baby is typically born with 46 chromosomes. A baby with Down syndrome has a full or partial copy of chromosome 21.

About 5,700 babies are born with Down syndrome each year in the U.S., and over 400,000 people in the country currently live with it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Adult and child hands holding blue and yellow ribbon for Down syndrome awareness

About 5,700 babies are born in the U.S. with Down syndrome each year and over 400,000 people in the country currently live with it. The blue-and-yellow ribbon represents Down syndrome awareness.  (iStock)

The life expectancy of those with the condition has increased dramatically over the years. 

In 1983, it was just 25 years old — but today it’s 60 years old, per the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado. 

The most common type of Down syndrome is trisomy 21, which accounts for 95% of all cases. Less common types of Down syndrome are translocation (caused by rearranged chromosome material) and mosaicism (when there is a mixture of two types of cells). 

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Not every child with Down syndrome will display the developmental symptoms.

There are no known ways to prevent the condition during pregnancy and no known root causes, experts say. 

One risk factor associated with Down syndrome is the age of the mother. For a 25-year-old pregnant woman, the odds are about 1 in 1,250. At age 40, those odds are 1 in 100, statistics show.

Aric Berquist

Dad Aric Berquist, shown on a walk on the beach, said he cherishes the “blessings” brought to his whole family by his youngest son. (Aric Berquist/The Lesson)

There are both physical and developmental symptoms of Down syndrome. 

Physical symptoms may include a flattened face; shorter height; short neck; small ears, hands and feet; and decreased muscle tone, according to the CDC. 

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Developmental symptoms, meanwhile, may include a short attention span, impulsive behavior, slow learning and delayed speech development. 

Not every child with Down syndrome will display each of these traits.

‘Walk through that day’

A key life lesson for Berquist through his experiences has been about being present.

Know that “your feet are on the ground today,” he said. 

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“Walk through that day.”

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When there are life challenges, he said, “when we walk through things that are tough, we’re being cleaned. We’re being made into something beautiful if we allow it and if we walk through it.”

Berquist also said, “Breathe that air. Engage with that beauty. Because that is your life.”

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Angelica Stabile and Ashlyn Messier, both of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting. 

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Layla Telehealth: Online Prescribing for Generic Semaglutide | Woman's World

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