How’s Chase?

Chase has returned from his CT scan, which was ordered as STAT. We are awaiting results.

Why the CT Scan Was Needed:
Following today’s sinus surgery, the oculoplastics team identified dangerously elevated pressure in Chase’s eye. The CT scan is focused on determining whether there is an abscess — a contained pocket of infection and fluid — within the orbit, the bony cavity surrounding the eye. The ophthalmology team has indicated a high likelihood that such an abscess will be found.

If the Abscess Is Confirmed — What a Second Surgery Would Solve:
An abscess behind or around the eye cannot be resolved by antibiotics alone. The infection is essentially walled off in a contained pocket, meaning the IV antibiotics circulating through Chase’s bloodstream cannot effectively reach or eliminate it. The only way to address it is to physically drain it.

Left untreated, the abscess would continue applying pressure to the eye itself — which is what caused the vision risk identified in the operating room today. That pressure, if sustained, can damage the optic nerve and threaten permanent vision loss.

What the Second Surgery Would Involve:
The procedure would be performed under general anesthesia. The surgical team would make a small incision along the natural crease of the eyelid — a location chosen specifically because it heals cleanly and is largely hidden once recovered. Through that incision they would access the orbital space, drain the abscess, and relieve the source of pressure on the eye.

Why It Is Needed Urgently:
The eye is unforgiving when it comes to sustained pressure. The longer an abscess presses against the eye and optic nerve, the greater the risk to Chase’s vision. Acting tonight rather than waiting until morning is about protecting that vision while the window to do so cleanly remains open.

The Good News in All of This:
This is a known and treatable complication. The team identified it quickly, acted immediately to relieve the pressure temporarily, and is now moving urgently to address the root cause. Chase is in exactly the right place with exactly the right specialists.

We will update as soon as we have CT results and a confirmed plan.