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Marcus Smart’s holiday season included two eyes a-burning.
The Celtics star is finally recovering from the “hell” of viral conjunctivitis that infected both his eyes after missing seven straight games, including Boston’s Christmas Day tilt against the Raptors.
“I thought I was going to go blind for a while,” Smart told ESPN. “I think it was the worst case of viral conjunctivitis that they’ve seen. So, basically, I was a guinea pig to see how to handle this if it ever happens again to anybody else.
“It was the worst pain that I’ve been through in a very long time. I don’t wish it on anybody. But I’m here.”
Following a Dec. 6 game against the Denver Nuggets, Smart was battling a cold and an allergic reaction, with his immune system easily taken over by the virus. What started in his left eye made its way to his right and led to the 25-year-old being sent home by Celtics doctors.
The 2014 first-round pick was unable to see, forced to wear sunglasses even indoors and in the dark. Bedridden, he was unable to even watch TV.
“Every morning I would wake up just having sticky discharge coming out of my eyes, sealing my eyes shut,” he said. “It was really just gross. It got so bad that my eyes, my eyelids started forming these mucus membranes, and they literally had to go in and pry the mucus membranes out.”
Despite the high level of grossness, Smart made sure to document his travails for his teammates, who he hopes to rejoin soon, though he isn’t taking any chances. He’ still unable to fully open his eyes and is regaining weight lost from his illness.
“I’d say about 80 percent,” Smart said of his game-readiness. “I was able to get the last two days’ workouts in. I just was really getting my body back to playing shape and adjusting and making sure I’ve got my strength back and my conditioning and air back.”
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