Houston Republic

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) recently provided an update on his condition after receiving an emergency eye procedure.

A former Navy Seal, Crenshaw had previously lost his right eye to a blast from an improvised explosive device in 2012. The same explosion damaged the retina in his left eye, which has recently gotten worse, reported FOX News.

"Last week, I had my first follow-up visit with my surgeon, which went very well," Crenshaw wrote in an April 23 Facebook post. "To our relief, my retina was still in place during my follow-up appointment. I can lift my head up again and no longer have to position myself face-down, which is a relief. This is obviously good news, but it doesn’t mean we are out of the woods yet."

Crenshaw said that he can only see lights and shadows, but is hopeful that his vision will return to what it was. Surgeons placed a “silicon buckle” around his retina to keep it in place and injected a gas bubble into his eye to act as a bandage. 

“The surgery went very well, thanks to the excellent doctors and nurses at the VA here in Houston, but I still have a while to go until I am fully recovered," Crenshaw added. "I cannot fly on an airplane for at least six weeks because the pressure changes while flying may cause the gas bubble in my eye to expand."

The representative added that his offices would continue to stay open, but that he would unavailable for interviews as he focuses on his recovery.

“My congressional offices in Houston and Washington, D.C. continue to function as normal and I am staying up to date on legislation in the House, but I still will not be posting on social media or conducting interviews for the time being," Crenshaw continued. "I am focusing on my recovery so I can be back to 100% as soon as possible. If you have any good audio book recommendations, send them my way."

When injured by the IED explosion during his third deployment in 2012, doctors initially believed that he would ever see again. Crenshaw eventually regained minimal sight in his left eye following several difficult surgeries and months of recovery.

He went on to two more deployments, first back to the Middle East in 2014 and then South Korea in 2016, before being medically retired as a lieutenant commander with over 10 years of service in the SEAL Teams.

Crenshaw now serves Texas's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses parts of northern and western Houston.