Michael Owen's son, James, has shared the emotional toll of abandoning his aspirations of becoming a professional footballer due to Stargardt disease, a rare inherited eye disorder that has left him clinically blind. The 20-year-old discussed his experiences ahead of the release of the reality series "Meet The Owens" on Prime Video.

James was diagnosed with Stargardt disease at the age of eight. The condition causes fatty waste deposits to accumulate on the central part of the retina, leading to progressive loss of central vision. While he retains peripheral vision, his ability to see straight ahead is significantly impacted, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings about eye contact.

"Obviously it's been tough growing up," James explained. "It makes it hard for me to look straight. 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, first noticed potential issues when a teacher flagged concerns about James's ability to see the classroom board. Subsequent extensive testing confirmed the diagnosis of Stargardt disease, which affects approximately one in 10,000 people globally. The first symptoms typically appear between the ages of six and ten, though diagnosis often occurs between ten and 20.

Michael Owen recalled the initial diagnosis as a deeply emotional period. "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?" he said. "I wanted him to not feel sorry for himself, have a positive outlook on life."

James described the realization that his football dream was unattainable as devastating. "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 Owen expressed a sense of lingering guilt, acknowledging that the condition has a genetic component. "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,'" he admitted. "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."

Despite the challenges, Michael praised his son's resilience and positive attitude. "James' ability to laugh at himself is the most endearing thing in my world," he said. "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."

Owen also expressed hope that James might join him in his horse racing venture, Manor House Stables. "I'd love that - I think he's got all the hallmarks of being an asset to this place," Michael shared.

The upcoming reality series, "Meet The Owens," will offer a glimpse into the lives of Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children—Gemma, James, Emily, and Jessica—as they navigate their horse racing business and family dynamics over the course of a year. The series is set to premiere on Prime Video on August 28, 2026.