| | TORONTO -- It is still too early to tell if Bryan Berard
will regain sight in his right eye.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, who was struck in the face Saturday
night by the stick of Ottawa's Marian Hossa, will require more
surgery before a prognosis can be made. It is unlikely that Berard
will lose the eye.
| |  | |
| Berard |
"His chances are slim but not impossible," said specialist Dr.
Rob Devenyi, who examined Berard on Tuesday morning. "At this
point it is just conjecture until the extent of the injury is known
and we won't know that until we remove the blood surgically and see
exactly how damaged the retina is."
After waiting until the risk of infection has passed, Berard
will require exploratory surgery, possibly within a week.
"As ultrasound has shown, though, he has numerous other
injuries to his eye," Devenyi said. "And at this point, it's
really not possible to definitively make a statement what his
visual recovery will be."
Berard was hit as Hossa was following through on a slap shot.
The 1997 NHL rookie of the year, had surgery following the game and
returned to Toronto by air ambulance on Monday morning.
The blow by Hossa's stick caused a significant cut in the eye -- nearly one inch.
Devenyi said, however, that Berard was feeling quite
comfortable.
Using a giant model of an eye, Devenyi said that Berard's eye
cavity is filled with blood. The extent of the tearing and damage
to the retina is the key factor affecting the vision.
"I don't have a lot of optimism, but I have hope," Devenyi
said at Air Canada Centre.
Berard can only see the difference between light and dark, but
the doctor added that it is not surprising given the amount of
blood that is present.
"That (seeing light) doesn't really say anything about the
extent of the damage," Devenyi said. "If you take a normal eye
and fill it with blood, that's all you see."
Devenyi has seen players with similar injuries play again,
although he acknowledged it took many months. He stressed he still
does not know the exact nature of Berard's injury.
"We're still in a mode of maintaining hope that something will
be found when they finally get in to have a straight look at it,"
Leafs coach and general manager Pat Quinn said. "He believes he's
going to beat this thing."
Asked if a visor would have helped, Devenyi said "Absolutely."
He said in 28 years there has not been a hockey injury such as
this to a player wearing a shield.
"It's the easiest question in the world, everyone should wear a
full visor. Period," Devenyi said.
| |
ALSO SEE
Fans pay tribute to Berard during Leafs' loss to 'Hawks
Hossa visits Berard before his transfer to Toronto hospital
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Marian Hossa draws blood from Bryan Berard.
avi: 1224 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Dr. Rob Devenyi explains Bryan Berard's condition.
wav: 93 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Maple Leafs' President Ken Dryden says Berard wants the team to focus on winning.
wav: 160 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pat Quinn talks about Berard's competitive spirit.
wav: 126 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Dr. Rob Devenyi says Berard will need more surgery on his eye.
wav: 122 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
 |
