Why Chris Pronger Needs Bed Rest

If you’re like me – lanky and with an unhealthy obsession for Haribo gummy bears – then you probably raised an inquisitive eyebrow when you heard that Chris Pronger's eye needs bed rest. Well, thankfully, CB readers are awesome and we immediately had an eye doctor comment on the injury. 

I emailed the commenter, Dr. Raymond M. Cianni OD (Total Eye Care Centers), and he described Pronger’s injury, Hyphema, thusly:

When you get an impact to the front of the eye, the area between the cornea (clear) and iris (color) part of your eye can fill with blood. It's called a Hyphema (GSP had one a few fights ago for UFC fans). Absolute bed rest. You need to let the blood drain out so it doesn't clog the drainage channels and cause glaucoma. Think of shaking up a snow globe (every time you move your head/eye around).
Prognosis very good, but just time consuming.

Glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure (increased pressure in the eye). The cornea and iris meet at a point where fluid drains out. I explain it to patients like the gutter of a street (curb is cornea, the street is the iris). Fluid drains out via the gutter. Red blood cells are really big cells. So they very easily clog up the 'drainage canal,' which means the street floods, or in this case, the pressure can build very quickly. A quick prolonged spike in pressure can cause severe vision loss if not treated quickly. 
Bed rest (as recent as five years ago, most significant Hyphema's bought you a stay in the hospital) is crucial so that the blood can settle and be reabsorbed. He's also gonna be watched closely for a re-bleed– normally a daily follow up for a few days at least in my office). And with a shot like that, I'd be amazed if his cornea was completely clear and fine.. ..ie-I'd bet he has a nice sized corneal abrasion in addition to the hyphema which is no fun for him for sure..

So there’s that. Basically, Pronger’s eye is filled with blood, and moving it around could irreversible long-term damage. Stay in bed, Prongs! Stay in bed!