Archbishop Hicks says retinal surgery was a success, thanks faithful for prayers

Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York shared encouraging news Sept. 8 after an unexpected summer of surgery and recovery: his retina has healed well, the gas bubble placed in his eye has dissolved, and he can see through his left eye again.

“I’m happy to say that the surgery was a success,” he said on the Sept. 8 episode of All Good Things with Archbishop Hicks.

The health scare began July 5, just days after Archbishop Hicks returned from Rome, where he had received the pallium, a white band metropolitan archbishops wear, from Pope Leo XIV.

He said he was working at his desk around 3:30 p.m. when “all of a sudden I couldn’t see through my left eye.”

“That was obviously frightening,” the archbishop said.

Treatment began with laser surgery, followed by a vitrectomy. Archbishop Hicks said doctors also used two stitches to reattach the retina and inserted a gas bubble that would remain in his eye for about eight weeks.

According to the National Eye Institute, vitrectomy may involve placing a gas bubble in the eye to help keep the retina in position. Patients must avoid flying or traveling to high altitudes while such a bubble remains because changes in altitude can affect the bubble and pressure inside the eye.

Those medical restrictions transformed what Archbishop Hicks had expected to be a busy summer. He had planned to spend time with family in Chicago, take a short break and continue getting to know the people and ministries of his archdiocese. Instead, he said, “I was convalescing.”

During his first week after surgery, he had to keep his head down, restrict movement and avoid heavy lifting. The recovery continued for roughly two months.

In a Sept. 8 press release, Archbishop Hicks said his retina specialist recently confirmed that the gas bubble had completely dissolved. He has now been cleared to fly and exercise again, sleep on his back and shower without protective goggles.

Even those ordinary freedoms have taken on new significance.

“That was my summer,” the archbishop said in the podcast episode. “That’s not what my plans were, but you deal with what’s given.”

Throughout the recovery, Archbishop Hicks continued his work for the archdiocese and maintained his spiritual routine of Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours and prayer. He said the experience also gave him more time to pray for the faithful entrusted to his care.

Zeale reported Aug. 7 that Archbishop Hicks had begun returning to public ministry as his vision improved. The previous day, he celebrated his first public Mass following the surgery, presiding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as members of the Sisters of Life made their profession of vows.

The archbishop said one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was hearing from people across the country who had faced similar medical challenges and promised to pray for him.

“It was beautiful and humbling to be on the receiving end of that,” Archbishop Hicks said.

He closed with a reflection drawn naturally from his experience of losing and regaining sight:

“May we all continue to see Christ clearly, our healer, our shepherd, and our Savior.”

The archbishop’s return to fuller activity comes during an important week for Catholics in New York. As Zeale previously reported, he is scheduled to celebrate a Sept. 10 Memorial Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.