‘Still alive, still doing OK’: Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw shares an update after his emergency eye surgery

HOUSTON – U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, of Texas, shared an update Thursday on his progress since his emergency eye surgery earlier this month.

“I’m still alive, still doing OK, still can’t see very well,” Crenshaw said.

Crenshaw explained in a video posted on social media that he’s still suffering some of the effects -- including blurry vision -- but his retina is currently staying in place. The surgery was to address a detaching retina in his left eye. He said his doctors are optimistic and he’s resuming his duties now.

He said previously that he would be virtually sightless for a month.

Crenshaw, 37, is a Navy veteran who lost his right eye and suffered damage to his left eye in 2012 when a homemade bomb exploded while he was deployed to Afghanistan.

“The blast from 2012 caused a cataract, excessive tissue damage, and extensive damage to my retina,” Crenshaw said in a statement. “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.”

Crenshaw said the surgery came after he experienced dark, blurry vision. He visited an ophthalmologist and learned of his detaching retina.

“The surgery went well, but I will be effectively blind for about a month,” according to Crenshaw.

Crenshaw was reelected in November representing Texas’ 2nd Congressional District in the Houston area.