Crenshaw makes first appearance post-emergency eye surgery, hopeful to 'return to some sense of normalcy'

After emergency surgery for a detached retina, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) provided an update on his sight and recovery.

After seeing some blurry spots in his vision, Crenshaw decided to pay a visit to an ophthalmologist where the discovery was made. 

"The doctors are optimistic and the retina is staying in place, which means we're hopeful I'll return to some sense of normalcy in a couple of months," Crenshaw said in a Facebook video. 

The retired NAVY Seal was deployed in Afghanistan in 2012 and lost his right eye from an explosive ordnance device. His left eye recovered and Crenshaw completed two more deployments before he medically retired in 2016.

"Still can't see yet very well," he said in his Facebook video. "Still got some pain and inflammation you can see that, pretty red eye, but doctors are optimistic, been doing various follow up appointments by now."

The two-term congressman spoke to his colleagues at the House Energy and Commerce meeting, which was his first public appearance since his eye operation. 

Crenshaw is originally from the Houston area and grew up across the globe as his dad had a career in the Texas oil and gas industry. He attended high school in Ecuador and Columbia and is fluent in Spanish.

The veteran graduated from Tufts University in 2006 earning his Naval officer commission through Navy ROTC and then reported to SEAL training in Coronado, California. 

The lawmaker left service holding two Bronze Stars, one with Valor, the Purple Heart and the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor. 

Elected in November 2018, Crenshaw represents the Second Congressional District of Texas and was appointed to the Homeland Security Committee and the Budget Committee. He is named ranking member of the Oversight, Management and Accountability Subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee.