Watch CBS News

What Is A Detached Retina?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Coach Mike Zimmer is out for Thursday night's game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys.

He is recovering after having surgery Wednesday night on his retina.

Amidst the ups and downs of this tumultuous Vikings season, one thing has remained steady: support for the team's leader.

Mack Goshhorn and his son, Joshua, are Viking fans who admit they are uneasy.

"The coach not being here makes me nervous," Mack Goshhorn said.

Detached Retina
Detached Retina (credit: CBS)

The eye problem we have been watching over the past month just hasn't gone away.

Dr. Geoffrey Emerson is not treating Zimmer, but he knows a lot about retinas. He is chief of staff at Phillips Eye Institute.

"Most of the time it's fixable and the vision turns out pretty good, but if you don't treat a retinal detachment, the vision disappears," Dr. Emerson said.

He says Zimmer's condition is likely painless. The only way you know you have a detached retina is because vision is impaired.

Zimmer's could have been because of trauma or it could have just appeared out of the blue as is common. It sometimes takes several surgeries to fix.

"I would expect him to have a speedy recovery," Dr. Emerson said. "I want him back on the sidelines, too, for the sake of our Vikings."

Recovery is serious for this surgery. Sometimes patients have to stay face down for two days and cannot fly for two to six weeks.

Despite all of this uncertainty, one thing is clear: Zimmer has a lot of love being thrown his way.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.