Former England footballer Michael Owen has spoken candidly about his son James's diagnosis with Stargardt disease, a rare inherited eye disorder that has left him clinically blind.

James, now 20, was diagnosed with the condition at the age of eight, dashing his hopes of following his father's sporting career. Stargardt disease occurs when fatty waste deposits build up on the macula, the central part of the retina, leading to progressive vision loss. While James retains peripheral vision, his central sight is gone.

Owen described the initial diagnosis as "shocking" and admitted to experiencing self-blame. "You blame yourself for it," he said in a recent interview. He recounted the practical ways the condition affects their daily lives, such as needing to read restaurant menus to his son and cut his food for him. "Every time we sit at a restaurant, he's by my side because I read him the menu and I need to cut his food because he can't..." Owen explained.

Despite the challenges, Owen highlighted the positive impact the condition has had on their relationship. "I get to spend three times more with my lad because he's got an eye condition," he stated. "I love it. I wouldn't want it any different." He praised James's resilience, noting, "He is so bright. He is almost self-taught. He doesn't sit back and pity himself. In fact, it's quite the opposite, he gets out there and he laughs at himself."

Owen expressed hope for future medical advancements, telling his son, "Your eyes are going to be better one day. There will be a transplant. There will be something that is going to come out."

James's mother, Louise, first noticed potential issues when a teacher flagged that James might be having trouble seeing the classroom board. Subsequent testing confirmed the Stargardt disease diagnosis, which affects approximately one in 10,000 people globally.

Michael Owen recalled the profound emotional toll of the diagnosis, admitting he would sometimes stop his car and cry, contemplating his son's future. He emphasized his desire for James to maintain a positive outlook and avoid self-pity. "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 said.

Owen also revealed his aspiration for James to join him at Manor House Stables, his co-owned racing and breeding yard. "I'd love that - I think he's got all the hallmarks of being an asset to this place," Michael shared.

James, reflecting on his childhood dream, confessed, "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."

The family's life, including navigating James's condition and their horse racing business, is documented in the docuseries "Meet the Owens," now available on Prime Video. The series follows Michael, Louise, and their four children—Gemma, James, Emily, and Jessica—as they manage their professional and personal lives.

Michael Owen, a Ballon d'Or winner in 2001, played for prominent clubs including Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, and represented England 89 times. Since retiring from football, he has focused on horse racing.