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
Study links mental health risks to this toxin for those born in '60s or '70s
Lead exposure in the 20th century may have led to mental health issues in Americans, a new study suggests.
Researchers from Duke University and Florida State University studied the impact of lead in gasoline, which was first added in 1923 to help keep car engines healthy. (It was later banned from all U.S. vehicles in 1996.)
People born from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s are thought to have had the highest exposure.
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The findings revealed that childhood exposure to car exhaust from leaded gas resulted in an imbalance of mental health in the U.S., which made “generations of Americans more depressed, anxious and inattentive or hyperactive,” according to a Duke press release.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, attributed an estimated 151 million cases of psychiatric disorders over the past 75 years to leaded gas exposure in American children.
Americans born before 1966 experienced “significantly higher rates of mental health problems as a result of lead, and likely experienced changes to their personalities that would have made them less successful and resilient in life,” the researchers wrote.
‘No safe level’
Lead is “neurotoxic” and can erode brain cells and alter brain function – therefore, there is “no safe level of exposure at any point in life,” according to Duke.
While young children are especially vulnerable to the effects, the researchers noted, “No matter what age, our brains are ill-equipped for keeping lead toxicity at bay.”
“Lead has played a larger role in our mental health than previously thought.”
Lead study author Aaron Reuben, PhD, wrote in a statement that humans are “not adapted to be exposed to lead at the levels we have been exposed to over the past century.”
“We have very few effective measures for dealing with lead once it is in the body, and many of us have been exposed to levels 1,000 to 10,000 times more than what is natural,” he added.
‘Clinically concerning’
The researchers analyzed historical data on childhood blood-lead levels, leaded gas use and U.S. population statistics, determining that more than 170 million Americans had “clinically concerning levels” of lead in their blood as children as of 2015.
Lead exposure resulted in greater rates of mental disorders like depression and anxiety, but also more “mild distress that would impair quality of life.”
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“We saw very significant shifts in mental health across generations of Americans — meaning many more people experienced psychiatric problems than would have if we had never added lead to gasoline,” co-author Matt Hauer said in a statement.
This likely resulted in lower IQs, mental health problems and other long-term health complications, like cardiovascular disease, the study suggests.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Reuben reiterated how mental health in America was “likely significantly influenced by Americans’ exposure to lead over the past century.”
“Declining lead exposures were likely met by improving mental health,” he said. “Lead has played a larger role in our mental health than previously thought.”
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While the researcher said he was not surprised to find that lead caused harm, he was surprised by the “magnitude” of its effect.
“We assume that our ‘lead problem’ was solved in the 1970s and 1980s, but that was just the start of solving the problem,” he said.
“There are millions of Americans alive today who had extremely high lead exposure as children. How have those exposures influenced the trajectories of their lives? This is one thing we set out to answer.”
Reuben pointed out some limitations of the study, including that it only included two cohorts and that it did not study exposures from other sources besides gasoline.
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“As time goes on, we hope that more lead-mental health studies become available for us to improve our estimates based on better lead-harm curves,” he said. “Future studies should ideally be able to incorporate lead exposure from water and paints.”
The expert urged the public to take lead exposure seriously by removing hazards that still exist in some paint, fuel, batteries and other mediums.
“There are millions of Americans alive today who had extremely high lead exposure as children.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a regulation in October 2024 giving cities 10 years to replace any remaining lead plumbing.
The agency also took action in January 2024 to lower the levels of lead in soil at residential homes across the country.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, child psychologist Dr. Michele Borba noted that the current youth mental health crisis in America has been largely attributed to social media, but that this new study on lead exposure explores a “new realm” of what could be behind deteriorating mental health.
“It’s an unusual and fascinating reason that most of us have never been prepared for or even thought of – but it isn’t just children’s mental health and well-being at stake,” she said.
“We may be overlooking other generations and the long-lasting impact of lead exposure.”
Borba commented that while more research is required on the topic, she recommends that other mental health experts take lead exposure into consideration when treating patients.
Health
Adding laughter to your life can boost health and healing, experts say
Wonder why you feel better after a good laugh?
There’s reliable evidence that laughter improves various aspects of mental, emotional and physical health.
If you’re experiencing stress, pain or challenges to your immune system, finding ways to incorporate laughter into your daily life could be an effective remedy.
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Health experts say humor and giggles can be good medicine — and that’s no joke.
Why laughter matters
Simple and actionable steps to add more smiles to your life can make a difference.
“When considering lifestyle changes to improve health, people often overlook the benefits of laughter,” Michael Richardson, M.D., a family physician with Carbon Health in Boston, told Fox News Digital.
“Research shows that laughter can reduce stress, boost the immune system and even help alleviate pain.”
As a primary care doctor, Richardson encourages patients to prioritize joy in their lives; he said laughter is an excellent way to do so.
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“Just as you may set aside time each week for exercise, it may be worth scheduling moments of laughter in your daily or weekly routine,” the doctor said.
“Making this a regular habit could have a protective effect on overall health.”
How does laughter positively impact the body?
The body is receptive to laughter — here’s how it works.
There are two parts of the nervous system — the sympathetic and the parasympathetic, said Beth Oller, M.D., a family physician with Rooks County Health Center in Stockton, Kansas.
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for fight-or-flight responses, “which are activated all too often in many of us, with all the things to worry about in our world today.”
Over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity and other illnesses, Oller said.
“On the other hand, our parasympathetic nervous system is the one that calms our body down — and exercise, meditation, deep breathing and laughing can activate this system,” the doctor continued.
“Laughing decreases the stress hormone cortisol, which helps reverse the stress response.”
“Laughter is free, lacks side effects, and has psychological and physical benefits.”
Some early research has found that laughter decreases stress hormones, reduces artery inflammation and increases HDL, which is the “good cholesterol,” said Oller.
“Laughter has been associated with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease by increasing blood flow and oxygen intake,” the doctor added. “Laughter promotes vasodilation, which leads to improved blood flow and enhances circulation.”
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It has also been shown that laughter can help alleviate pain by releasing endorphins, stimulating circulation and relaxing the muscles, Oller added.
Laughing can even add years to your life, the expert noted: “It has been found that regular laughing is associated with reduced all-cause mortality.”
The role of laughter in mental health
The psychological benefits of laughter have been researched for some time, according to Sara Brides, a licensed clinical social worker who treats patients at Novant Health Cancer Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“Laughter can reduce stress,” she told Fox News Digital. “Our brains can cope with stress; however, remaining in a stress response for prolonged periods of time is not healthy.”
“One way to increase spontaneous laughter is to intentionally spend time with those you enjoy and who naturally make you laugh.”
When someone laughs — particularly when it’s spontaneous or genuine laughter — endorphins are released, cortisol (the stress hormone) decreases, and dopamine and serotonin (the happy hormones) increase.
“Dopamine is associated with a sense of reward, pleasant sensations and motivation, and serotonin is associated with happiness, decreased depression and anxiety, and learning and motivation,” Brides added.
Lightheartedness and joy can also be a bridge to better social outreach.
“One way to increase spontaneous laughter is to intentionally spend time with those you enjoy and who naturally make you laugh,” Brides said.
Long-term benefits
A quick dose of humor is a good start, but consistent laughter could have the following long-term benefits, according to Mayo Clinic.
Immune system boost
Negative thoughts may manifest into chemical reactions that can affect the body by bringing on more stress, according to the Mayo Clinic, which means laughter could be a remedy for better health.
Improved outlook
Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations and to reach common ground with others, stated the same source.
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Lighter mood
Laughter can help lessen stress, depression and anxiety, and may make you feel happier by boosting your self-esteem, per Mayo Clinic.
Finding ways to add humor
Like many things in life, humor is a skill, said physician Oller in Kansas — and to develop a skill, practice is key.
She suggested surrounding yourself with people who are positive and make you laugh — or finding your own way to humor.
“Simple ways include watching or reading something funny,” the therapist said. “There is now even a practice called laughter yoga, focused on breathing and simulating laughter.”
“Watch shows that make you laugh, and don’t be afraid to laugh out loud. Go to a funny movie or a comedy show,” Oller suggested. “My favorite way to guarantee a lot of laughing out loud is playing funny board games with friends and family.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
Brides, the therapist, also stressed the importance of finding ways to insert joy and laughter into life.
“Laughter is free, lacks side effects, and has psychological and physical benefits.”
Health
Wedding of paramedics takes place with ambulance as backdrop: 'Felt only right'
Two paramedics tied the knot recently with an unusual backdrop for their marriage ceremony.
Wayne Marshall, 37, of Castle Douglas Station, and his new bride, Sarah Marshall, of Newton Stewart Station, wed at the Creebridge House Hotel with an ambulance behind them.
The couple both work for the Scottish Ambulance Service in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.
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Said Wayne Marshall of the couple’s experience, “It was a fantastic day and great to spend it with friends, family, co-workers, both past and present,” as news outlet SWNS reported.
He said that “the whole day was amazing.”
For one thing, the couple “managed to trick our guests into thinking we had lost the rings, only for one of them to find them under her chair,” he said.
Wayne Marshall has been with the health care service for over eight years — five as a technician, three as a paramedic, the same source reported.
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“As we met through the service, it felt only right to have an ambulance there for some photos,” he said.
The wedded couple were able to make use of a non-operational ambulance in the background, SWNS also noted.
“Thankfully, an off-duty colleague was happy to oblige to bring a non-operational vehicle up for the occasion,” said Marshall.
“We each have a deep understanding of the job and [its] challenges.”
The pair became friends quickly once they met on the job.
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Speaking about sharing their relationship and the same job, Sarah Marshall said, “We each have a deep understanding of the job and the challenges that we may face during difficult shifts.”
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She added, “Our friends and colleagues weren’t surprised and have been supportive of our relationship.”
She said they are “both equally at home at each station and are pleased that as many colleagues came to the wedding as possible.”
They were not only joined on their happy day by family and friends, but by their cockapoo, Archie — who was appropriately dressed for a Scottish wedding, said SWNS.
Among the comments that have come in on social media about the wedding is this one-word reaction: “Beautiful!”
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