Michael Owen's son James has reflected on the heartbreaking rare condition that caused him to lose his sight. The 20-year-old was diagnosed with Stargardt disease when he was eight, forcing him to abandon his dreams of following in his father's legendary football career.
Stargardt disease is a rare, inherited eye disorder that happens when fatty waste deposits build up on the central part of the retina. As the condition progresses central vision is lost. James is now deemed to be clinically blind and can only see in his peripheral vision.
James and Michael discuss condition in new documentary
James and his father, 46, discussed his condition in their new Prime Video series, Meet The Owens, which will be released next week. “Obviously it's been tough growing up. It makes it hard for me to look straight,” James said. “People often think I'm rude for not keeping eye contact, I'm actually looking at them in the clearest way I possibly can.”
His mother Louise revealed they became aware of his eyesight issues when his primary school teachers flagged that she thought James was having trouble seeing the board in class. He was diagnosed with Stargardt disease after extensive testing. The condition affects roughly one in every 10,000 people globally.
Michael Owen reflects on guilt and dreams for his son
Michael recalled: “When he first got diagnosed I remember stopping in the car about three or four times and just bursting out crying, thinking what's his life going to be like? I wanted him to not feel sorry for himself, have a positive outlook on life. James's ability to laugh at himself is the most endearing thing in my world, just the little things like that brings us incredibly close together.”
He then shared his dreams for James to work with him at Manor House Stables, the racing and breeding yard he co-owns near Chester. “I'd love that - I think he's got all the hallmarks of being an asset to this place. But he's got to add to it, it's not a charity,” he said.
James opens up about lost football dreams
James admitted in his confessional: “It was my dream to follow my dad's footsteps and be a footballer and have a really great career. To have that realisation it's not possible, it kills you. It used to break my heart coming back every day from school, I just used to cry and think life was unfair.”
Michael added: “Most people who play football probably have the dream of their son following in their footsteps, that's what my dad had with me. I wanted James to be a footballer but obviously that dream was dashed quite early...”
Looking emotional, he went on: “We made James and I don't think I'd be normal if I didn't look myself in the mirror and think, 'It's down to us he's got this eye condition.' So I did feel guilty for a little while, and I guess I still feel guilty now, but you look at the positives with him and your guilt evaporates... We obviously go to bed every night praying and hoping there will be a cure but how he deals with his condition is just a credit to him. He's the most of my worries in terms of his condition but he's the least of my worries in terms of how far he'll get in life. James is nice and kind and he's determined - despite the harsh cards he's been dealt. He's a bloody good lad, a proper son, I'm proud of [him].”
After producers told James what his father had been saying about him, he said: “I'm quite blown away that he would say that, he'd never say that stuff to your face - it's really thrown me through a loop. I'd hate for people to feel sorry for me, I've still got the stuff that matters, a loving family and such a good model for a dad, it makes me really happy.”
The Owens' six-part docuseries follows a year in the life of Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children, Love Island star Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica, as they juggle a horse racing business with home life.
