Elton John “can’t read, see TV” or see his boys play sports.

The 78-year-old musician contracted a severe eye infection last July, which left him blind in his right eye and “limited vision” in his left, and he has revealed how it much it has affected his life.

“I can see you, but I can’t see TV, I can’t read, I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up,” John told The Times newspaper.

“‘It’s distressing. You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I’m lucky to have the life I have.

“I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of (my left eye). So you say to yourself, just get on with it.”

Speaking previously about his battle with blindness, John – who has sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with husband David Furnish – told The Guardian newspaper: “I’m an optimist permanently, I’ve got bad eyesight at the moment.

“There have been days I’ve been miserable, but then I think about how lucky I am, I’ve got a new respect for sight-impaired people, but I’ve got a great life and hopefully my sight will improve.

“I’ve beaten addiction, health issues and can pick myself up, dust myself off.”

—AAP