The soul icon — born Stevland Hardaway Judkins — was diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) as an infant. Caused by excess oxygen in the incubator used after his premature birth, the condition led to a detachment of the retinas and permanent blindness by the time he was just six weeks old.

The music legend gracefully addressed the long-lingering conspiracy about his sight during a concert in Cardiff, Wales.

Stevie Wonder tackles rumors about his blindness during a Cardiff concert, sharing how his condition shapes his unique perspective on life.

The music legend, Stevie Wonder recently set the record straight on rumors on his sight that have followed him for decades.

Stevie Wonder addressed rumors about his blindness during a recent concert in Wales, sharing the story of how he lost his vision as a child

Stevie Wonder revealed the “truth” about his impaired vision to a live audience, after longstanding industry jokes and speculation that he is not actually blind. On stage at Blackweir Fields in Cardiff, Wales, during his Love, Light & Song U.K. tour earlier this month, the 75-year-old explained how he is able to “see” people.

Stevie was born premature and went blind shortly after – he was diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at six weeks old, due to too much oxygen in his incubator. According to the Mayo Clinic, this occurs when blood vessels ‘swell and grow too much in the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye’.