Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) attended a public House committee hearing on Thursday afternoon for the first time since he received emergency surgery and lost vision in his left eye.
Crenshaw, who attended the House Energy and Commerce meeting virtually, said that he still couldn’t see everyone, but was hoping he would be able to see people again in the next few weeks and back to normal “within a couple of months.”
Crenshaw noted in a separate social media video-update about his eye — which required emergency surgery earlier this month — that he has started attending virtual congressional hearings.
“Even a blind knuckle-dragger can do committee hearings,” joked Crenshaw in the video. “So no worries there, Tara and I are fine, we’re having a good time, I’ve listened to countless audio books by this point, and you know what, we’re really appreciative of all of the well-wishes, all the prayers, it really helps. Thank you, we’ll be back in the fight soon.”
Crenshaw also described what the vision in his left eye has been like in recent days, saying: “If you want to get an idea of what I see, imagine putting on a dive mask — and of course blocking out one-half of it — and then inject some kind of bubbly soapy solution into it so you’re seeing through bubbles, and then wipe the outer lens with some vaseline for good measure. That’s sort of what I see.”
The Texas congressman added that his doctors are optimistic about his left eye. “I’ve been to various follow-up appointments by now and the retina is staying in place, which means we’re hopeful I’ll return to some sense of normalcy in the next couple of months, which means I can correct my vision basically back to normal again,” added Crenshaw.
Quick update on my recovery and how I am doing! pic.twitter.com/d2IjG5ODRh
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) April 29, 2021
Crenshaw has provided a few eye updates since he underwent emergency surgery earlier this month, but this was the first of his updates that has been in video form rather than released as a written statement.
Earlier this month, Crenshaw revealed in a statement that he had started seeing “dark, blurry spots,” and when he visited an ophthalmologist only days later, he was told his retina was detaching. “This is a terrifying prognosis for someone with one eye, and the nature of the injuries that I sustained in Afghanistan,” he said.
“Anyone who knows the history of my injuries knows that I don’t have a ‘good eye,’ but half a good eye. The blast from 2012 caused a cataract, excessive tissue damage, and extensive damage to my retina. It was always a possibility that the effects of the damage to my retina would resurface, and it appears that is exactly what has happened,” said Crenshaw.
According to Dallas News, Crenshaw lost his right eye in an IED explosion during his third deployment and it took several rounds of surgery to restore sight to his left eye, which was also damaged. He served two more deployments after that and then retired from the U.S. Navy in 2016.