Former England footballer Michael Owen has opened up about his 20-year-old son James's rare eye condition, revealing he cuts up his food and reads restaurant menus for him after blaming himself for the diagnosis.
James had hoped to follow in his father's footsteps with a sporting career, but at the age of eight he was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare inherited eye disorder caused by fatty waste deposits building up on the central part of the retina. As the condition progresses central vision is lost, leaving James clinically blind and able to see using only his peripheral vision.
Speaking on the Great Company podcast with Jamie Laing, the dad-of-four described the initial diagnosis as shocking and admitted that he blamed himself for his son's sight loss.
"It's fine now because he's amazing and I look at it and think, 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 said.
The former striker explained that their close bond extends to other activities: "Whenever we're watching racing he's by my side because I'm giving the commentary, wherever he wants to go, he needs his dad to take him, I'm his taxi driver."
Owen acknowledged that while he would swap eyes with his son in an instant if possible, he prefers to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship. "I get to spend three times more with my lad because he's got an eye condition," he shared. "Now I might be a selfish b***ard, but I think that... I love it. I wouldn't want it any different, and of course I would give my eyes to him in an instant if we could swap, of course I would, but let's take the positives."
He praised James's resilient attitude, describing him as bright and 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 said.
The former Liverpool legend also expressed long-term optimism about future medical treatments, adding: "I always say to him, 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."
Primary school diagnosis and early shock
The family first became aware of the issue when one of James's primary school teachers noticed he was having trouble seeing the board in class and alerted his mother, Louise Owen.
Extensive medical testing confirmed Stargardt disease, which affects roughly one in every 10,000 people globally. Owen recalled his deep grief after receiving the diagnosis, remembering stopping his car three or four times to cry while wondering what life would hold for his son.
"I wanted him to not feel sorry for himself, have a positive outlook on life," Owen said, adding that James's ability to laugh at himself is the most endearing quality in his world and has brought them incredibly close together.
Owen grew emotional as he reflected on parental guilt, explaining how he questioned whether the genetic condition was passed down through him and Louise. "We made James and I don't think I'd be normal if I didn't look at myself in the mirror and think, 'it's down to us he's got this eye condition,'" he said.
The former footballer noted that most fathers who play football dream of their sons following in their footsteps, just as his own father had with him. "I wanted James to be a footballer but obviously that dream was dashed quite early," he continued.
He explained that while guilt still lingers, seeing how James copes helps those feelings evaporate. "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," Owen 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 praised his son's character, calling him determined, kind, and a proper son he is proud of. "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," he shared.
Understanding Stargardt disease
Stargardt disease is a progressive inherited eye condition caused by a faulty gene that leads to a build-up of fatty deposits on the macula.
It affects one in 10,000 people worldwide. First symptoms are normally experienced from six years of age, though the condition is usually not diagnosed until between the ages of 10 and 20.
As with all macular degeneration, early symptoms typically include a blurred area in the middle part of vision and colors appearing less vibrant.
Career plans at Manor House Stables
With a professional football career ruled out, Owen revealed that he wants James to work with him at Manor House Stables, a large 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," Owen shared, before emphasizing: "But he's got to add to it, it's not a charity."
Speaking on their docuseries Meet the Owens, James confessed that realizing he could not pursue a football career was devastating. "It was my dream to follow my dad's footsteps and be a footballer and have a really great career," he revealed. "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."
During filming, producers told James what his father had been saying about him in separate interviews. James admitted he was surprised, sharing: "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."
James emphasized that he does not want pity, adding: "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."
Inside the Owen family docuseries
The family's daily life and horse racing business feature in Meet the Owens, a six-part docuseries produced by Whisper.
The series follows Michael and his wife Louise as they juggle their horse racing venture alongside a chaotic home life with their four children: Gemma, James, Emily, and Jessica.
At home, Michael and Louise are preparing for life as empty nesters as their children pursue their individual goals. Youngest daughter Jessica dreams of becoming an Olympic showjumping champion, while 18-year-old Emily is working to become the first member of the Owen family to attend university. James is considering joining the family racing enterprise.
Throughout his football career, Michael Owen played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, scoring 150 Premier League goals and winning the Ballon d'Or in 2001. He also earned 89 caps for England, scoring 40 goals for his country. Since retiring from football, he has focused on horse racing, which forms the centerpiece of the documentary series.
All six episodes of Meet the Owens are now available to stream on Prime Video.
