The "Eyes" Have It: Well, They Used To Have It

The "eyes" have it

I had eye surgery yesterday, and I went into the operating room able to see out of my right eye. Sure, my vision wasn’t the best in the world, but I could see. Still, the operation was a necessary evil. I had no real options.

Today, the eyesight is far worse than before the operation, and the surgeon is stumped. He doesn’t have a clue why blisters have formed on the surface of the eye, reducing my eyesight to mostly blurs and fuzzy images. Also, the pressure in my eye was dangerously high post surgery, but as of this morning it was back within a normal range. Still, my vision is horrible.

Normally, this probably wouldn’t be a big deal because a person could function with one good eye until the bad one healed. I’m not that fortunate, though.

You see, several years ago I responded to a domestic call where a man had beaten his wife quite badly. Well, I arrived and set about the task of arresting the drug-fueled behemoth. We went at it, toe-to-toe and blow-to-blow, until I finally got him on the ground in a prone position with his hands behind his back. I’d snapped one cuff in place and was about to apply the other when the wife-beater’s brother came up from behind and struck me on the side of my head and forehead with a piece of 2×4. I never saw it coming. In fact, the next thing I remembered was waking up in the hospital ER.

Co-workers told me that when they arrived (someone dialed 911 to say I was in trouble) I was unconscious, but had somehow managed to handcuff both men before passing out. I don’t remember anything about it, though. A witness told investigators that after I was struck I stood up and suddenly turned into a wild man, fighting both men at once. In short order, I’d pounded them into submission, at which time I cuffed them both. Then, according to the witness, I collapsed as if someone had flipped a switch, shutting me down.

Anyway, as a result of my injury, I lost most of the vision of my left eye. The 90% vision loss was permanent.

So, as a result of that incident and the trouble from yesterday’s surgery, I’m pretty much left feeling my way around. To type this piece I’ve had to enlarge the page until there are only a few giant blurry words visible on the screen.

Hopefully, the doctor can get a handle on the troubles and I’ll soon be back to normal.

Until then, my blog posts may be sporadic. I will, however, post a review of Southland tomorrow. It’ll be a little later than normal, but I’ll see that it’s there at some point in the day.

For now, though, I’m going to take a break from the computer.

“See” you all later.

17 replies
  1. Lee Lofland
    Lee Lofland says:

    You know, Wayne, if Sammy had been my partner maybe things would have turned out differently. 🙂

    *For those of you who don’t know Wayne, his son, Shawn Hatosy, plays the character Sammy on Southland.

    Thanks for all the well-wishes, everyone!

  2. Wayne Hatosy
    Wayne Hatosy says:

    That really sucks!! Bad things like this shouldn’t happen to good people and you are a good man Lee. You have my best wishes.

  3. Tracy Nicol
    Tracy Nicol says:

    Lee, the whole family here is thinking of you. Please listen to Donna. This surgeon may be in over his head. Get yourself to the best eye docs in the country. My dad and I both believed in an eye surgeon too long and it cost us. You can’t afford to lose anything. Let me know anything I can do for WPA, still waiting. ; ) Much love to you.

  4. Dave Swords
    Dave Swords says:

    I will pray for you, my friend, but I am not worried. It is obvious from your story that you are a fighter, and will soon be back to daily posts of the Graveyard Shift, which I, and so many others, look forward to every day.

  5. Pat Marinelli
    Pat Marinelli says:

    Heal well. Hopefully that’s all you need for it to get better. Thoughts and prayers headed your way. Please tell the doctor to check for any allergy to any medicine they put in your eye. Been there, done that.

  6. Stacy Allen
    Stacy Allen says:

    Sending prayers and hoping for your full and immediate healing. I am so sorry you are going through this.

  7. Donna Albrecht
    Donna Albrecht says:

    Prayers coming your way. Be sure your doc is consulting with the best medical school opthamology departments in the country.

  8. Susan Reynolds
    Susan Reynolds says:

    Wow, incredible spellbinding story, but so sorry to hear about your vision problems. I can only imagine how frightening that can be, on multiple levels. Please do let us know how it goes, and I’m hoping really BIG for a positive outcome.

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