Rock & Metal

ARMORED SAINT’s JOEY VERA On His Eye Surgery: ‘I’ve Been Very Lucky That This Did Not Turn Into Something Worse’

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Earlier this month, ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera faced a significant health challenge while on the band’s North American tour supporting W.A.S.P. Vera underwent successful laser surgery to treat posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), an age-related eye condition where the gel inside the eye (vitreous gel) detaches from the retina.

On Wednesday, December 11, Vera shared an update on his recovery via social media. He wrote:

“It’s been 9 days since my laser surgery to fix a tear in my left retina. Despite the ongoing tour, I’ve managed to keep traveling and performing. I visited a specialist in San Diego yesterday, and he confirmed the surgery went well and is healing properly.

“Though my vision remains blurry due to bleeding from the tear, the specialist assured me it should gradually improve over the next month. I’m incredibly fortunate this didn’t escalate into a full detachment. I owe a lot to the outstanding doctors and the support of friends who helped me navigate this scary experience.

“Thank you to everyone who reached out with messages of support and well wishes. Your kindness has been invaluable during this time.

“Four shows to go: Reno, Vegas, SF, LA. Let’s finish strong!”

The news of Vera’s condition first surfaced on December 3, shared by ARMORED SAINT vocalist John Bush via the band’s social media. He detailed the timeline of events leading up to the surgery, starting with a Thanksgiving dinner in New Orleans. After a night of camaraderie with the band, crew, and members of W.A.S.P., Vera woke the following morning in Houston to alarming symptoms, including impaired vision and large floaters in his left eye. Initially attributing it to fatigue, he continued with the tour, performing in Texas despite worsening symptoms.

In San Antonio, Vera sought medical advice from an ophthalmologist, who suspected PVD but recommended seeing a retinal specialist. Unfortunately, time constraints and the ongoing tour made it challenging to pursue further medical care immediately. Despite growing anxiety, Vera performed that night in San Antonio and again in Dallas the following day.

After the Dallas show, Vera sought emergency care at Baylor University hospital, where an ultrasound confirmed PVD but couldn’t provide more detailed insights. This uncertainty prompted the band to prepare backup plans with alternate bassists, but Vera persisted, showing remarkable resilience.

Thanks to timely intervention and quality medical care, Vera’s recovery is progressing, and he remains committed to finishing the tour.

I'm Emma. I Love rock music, doing guitar reviews, and making food. I love writing works because it is the best way to provide information to people.

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