EXCLUSIVE: Elton John's Eyesight Struggles Force Him Into New Way of Writing Songs

The condition has prevented him from working in the way he did for decades, meaning he can no longer read lyrics placed on his piano while composing. Instead, John has developed a new approach to songwriting for a forthcoming record created with producer Andrew Watt, due for release early next year.

A music industry source close to the songwriting partnership told us in an exclusive interview: "Elton has refused to let his eyesight challenges stop him making music. He has adapted his entire creative process and found a way to keep writing despite the limitations. It has been an extraordinary adjustment, but his determination has never been stronger."

Taupin, 76, told Rolling Stone the pair's latest collaboration was unlike anything they had done before because of John's vision loss.

He said: "Well, (Elton's) got a record coming out, I think, at the beginning of next year that I contributed to."

Taupin added: "But I literally don't know when that is. He did it with Andrew Watt again. And he wrote it in a completely different way simply because of his eyesight problem."

Explaining how their usual working methods had changed, Taupin said John was no longer able to read lyrics while sitting at the piano.

He said: "So he basically came up with instrumental tracks and threw basically three or four of them at me and said, 'Can you do something with these?', which I contributed to. But he's also worked with a couple of other people on there, which is great."

Taupin added: "So it's a whole different ballgame for him."

John previously spoke candidly about the emotional impact of losing his sight after the infection damaged his vision.

In an Instagram post, he described the daily challenges of adapting to life with impaired eyesight.

He said: "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. It's distressing."

John continued: "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 here."

He added: "You say to yourself, 'Just get on with it.'"

Despite the significant change to his creative routine, Taupin suggested John's passion for making music remains undiminished, with the pair continuing a songwriting partnership that has produced some of the most successful songs in popular music over the past five decades.

Elsewhere in the interview, Taupin also dismissed the idea either he or John would sell the rights to their catalog, despite the growing number of artists cashing in their publishing assets.

He said: "We don't need the money. We both have offspring, and why don't we leave it up to them?"

John shares two sons with his husband, David Furnish, while Taupin has two daughters with his fourth wife, Heather Kidd.

Their decision means control of one of popular music's most celebrated songwriting catalogs is expected to remain with their families rather than being sold to investors.