Stevie wonder biography blinded

12 May , | Updated: 12 May ,

Stevie Wonder's incredible music is known the world over, but was he blind from birth or did it happen later in life?

Why is Stevie Wonder blind?

Stevie Wonder - real name Steveland Hardaway Judkins - was born six weeks premature on May 13 in Saginaw, Michigan.

Contrary to popular belief Stevie wasn't actually born blind, but became so at six weeks old due to the incubator he was placed in after birth containing too much oxygen and causing the condition Retinopathy of Prematurity.

ROP is when the growth of the eyes is aborted and causes the retinas to detach, resulting in blindness.

How does Stevie Wonder play the piano with no sight?

Stevie taught himself to play the harmonica at just five years old and according to his mother began to learn to play the drums aged eight after regularly listening to the radio and banging out a rhythm on any surface he could find.