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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 3063767" data-attributes="member: 2012">Koivu hopes to wait for cataract surgeryCanadian Press9/14/2006 3:06:15 PMMONTREAL (CP) - Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu hopes to put off surgery on a small cataract on his left eye until after the NHL season. Koivu, who had surgery to repair a detached retina this summer, said Thursday he is optimistic he will be ready to play the 2006-07 season despite lingering difficulties from an eye injury suffered during the playoffs in April.The 31-year-old said he was left with a blind spot in his peripheral vision that likely is permanent and then developed a cataract."Right now, the doctors think it's in an early stage," he said as the Canadiens completed pre-camp physical exams at the Bell Centre. "I'll try to play with a contract lens, but if it gets worse, then we're going to have to do something about it during the season."Obviously, the best scenario would be to get it done at the end of the year, but right now, we're going to wait and see how it will progress."He said it is common for cataracts to develop after injuries or surgery to the eyes. This one has caused his vision to be "not as sharp as a month and a half ago."The Canadiens' first line centre, who was examined by an ophthalmologist this week, hopes that wearing a contact lens will give him clear vision until he can have the cataract removed next summer.He said the eye has been fine in informal skating drills this week, but won't really be tested until he takes part in scrimmages and pre-season games."I'll have more answers in a week to 10 days, but if there are no setbacks, I expect to be in the lineup for the first regular season game (Oct. 6 in Buffalo)," he said.The blind spot will not go away, however."The good thing about the blind spot is that it shouldn't get any worse but the bad news is it won't get any better either, so there's nothing we can do about the blind spot," he added. "I just have to get used to it."Koivu was breaking to the net in Game 3 of a first-round playoff series against Carolina on April 26 when Justin Williams' stick got under his visor and hit his left eye.He spent two nights in hospital as doctors waited for swelling to go down to diagnose the injury. He later had surgery.Koivu says he will wear a larger visor this season. "He seems really confident and optimistic and our medical staff is optimistic," said general manager Bob Gainey. "Not to diminish the situation. but I think we should just go let him play and not have a day-to-day update on an injury that happened four or five months ago and where the player will be cleared to play."The Canadiens begin scrimmages on Friday in the suburbs west of Montreal and play their first two pre-season matches at home on Tuesday and Wednesday, both against Boston."The scrimmages will tell us more and then the games," said Koivu. "The big thing is to feel comfortable and not think about the eye."</blockquote>

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