Elton John's battle with blindness: How 77-year-old star's husband David Furnish guided him around premiere as he was supported by stars including Liz Hurley after revealing he 'can't see'

Sir Elton John was touchingly guided around the red carpet by his husband David Furnish last night as the pop legend revealed he is unable to see.

The songwriter was surrounded by his friends at the premiere for The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical, with A-listers including Liz Hurley rallying around him.

The 77-year-old recently admitted he has not been able to see out of his right eye for months, and his left eye 'is not the greatest', following a severe infection.

The development means Sir Elton is no longer able to read or see anything, with the Rocketman artist admitting that while he would be unable to watch the show, he would enjoy listening to it.

The father- of-two has paid tribute to his husband David, describing him as 'my rock' as he comes to terms with the deterioration in his eyesight.

It came just months after Sir Elton was seen struggling to walk on the red carpet at another show following a knee replacement in January.

However, since then he has slimmed down after embracing healthier lifestyle and has slimmed down, and despite the devastating blindness appeared to be in good spirits.

He cheerfully posed for pictures for the musical launch in London on Sunday, as he chatted to a number of famous faces including pal and fashion designer Donatella Versace and Vanessa Williams, 61, who plays the role of fashion editor, Miranda Priestly.

Also in attendance was American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who fans have long assumed the character of Miranda Priestly was based on.

Sir Elton's husband David Furnish, 62, was also by his side for support. The pair entered a civil partnership in 2005, then officially tied the knot nine years later when same-sex marriage became legal in the UK. They have two sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11.

The musical features an original score by Sir Elton, lyrics by Shaina Taub, and book by Kate Wetherhead.

It comes after Sir Elton gave an update on his health, after being left with limited vision in one eye following a severe eye infection.

The music legend revealed he lost eyesight in his right eye in the summer in France and as a result can't see, read or watch anything.

The musician, who was accompanied by his husband, made the surprise admission as he took to the stage, weeks after revealing an infection had left him partially sighted.

He said: 'As some of you may know I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven't been able to see the performance but I have enjoyed it.'

Sir Elton was assisted by David offstage, with the icon crediting his husband for helping him since his eyesight faltered.

He added: 'To my husband who's been my rock because I haven't been able to come to many of the previews... it's hard for me to see it but I love to hear it and it sounded good tonight OK. Thank you for coming!

'It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest. So there's hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but I'm kind of stuck at the moment.

'Because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording I don't know, because I can't see a lyric for a start.

'We're taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment that's really what we're concentrating on.'

Speaking to ABC News about his new documentary Never Too Late, Elton admitted he wasn't sure about his ability to record any new music, as he puts all his focus on his health.

He said: 'It's been a while since I've done anything. I just have to get off my backside. I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France.

'It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest. So there's hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but I'm kind of stuck at the moment.

'Because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording I don't know, because I can't see a lyric for a start.'

In one scene, reported by Radio Times, Sir Elton is seen apart from his family while touring the US and shares that he's leaving the road behind to 'dedicate more time to raising my children'.

He also reflected on his health saying: I want to see our children get married, but I don't think I'm going to be around for that.'

Emotional David, who married the Rocket Man singer in 2014, admitted: 'That really upset me, because in my mind I sort of think Elton is going to live for ever – we all think that – and Elton is so vibrant that it's an easy thing to believe, but it forces you to confront that reality.'

As well as his current sight issues, Elton has faced a multitude of other health hurdles, after he had both knees replaced as well his right hip following a fall, which forced him to delay his farewell tour in 2021.

Sir Elton, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the early 2000s, also recently embarked on a healthy-eating lifestyle change.

The Rocket Man hitmaker, who played his final shows last summer at Glastonbury, revealed his eyesight issues in September.

He took to his Instagram with a lengthy post, explaining how he spent the past few months 'recuperating at home.'

Elton wrote: 'Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye.

'I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.

'I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.'

Elton concluded: 'I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.'

It comes after the EGOT winner admitted 'I don't know how much time I have left' as he opened up about death in his new documentary last month.

In a scene from Never Too Late, Elton pondered his own mortality as he confessed he often thinks about life and death.

One scene from the film sees the musician sitting in the dressing room on his final tour and looking at his possession.

He then admitted: 'I wonder what is going to happen to all of this stuff when I finish? This is the latter time of my life. I don't know how much time I have left.

'You think about that more when you get to my age. You think about life and death. You think, 'Well, I just want to be where I want to be now'.'

He added: 'I don't have to work after this. I will work and do records and putting radio shows together but travelling takes so much out of you.

'It is very tiring. I am used to it. I am a veteran at it but this is where you start to think about mortality.'

In the lead up to his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium in November 2022, Elton takes viewers back in time and recounts the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of his early years and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction.

At a New York screening of the documentary last month, he joked: 'To be honest with you, there's not much of me left.

'I don't have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don't have a prostate. I don't have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee.

'In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip. But I'm still here. And I can't thank you [enough], you're the people that made me.'