He may not have had the time to fly, either, Jimmy. You only have so long with an interrupted blood supply to the retina, to get the work done. My doc said it was an emergency surgery, and I woke up, was diagnosed, and under the knife the following day. Greatful for the vision I have in the left eye, but, it isn’t what it was.
After the surgery, I wore blaze orange and green arm bands saying I couldn’t medi-vacced by aircraft, as the nitrous oxide bubble they put in the eye to put pressure on the retina would expand at altitude and cause problems.

I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.

Best,
Ted