JOHANNESBURG: Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher could regain most of the sight in his left eye after a freak accident tore his retina, his doctor said Thursday.

“While it is impossible to predict the long-term outcome of Mark's eye injury, his medical team are nevertheless cautiously optimistic that he will have a reasonable recovery of the vision in his left eye,” his doctor Peter Sandell said in a statement.

The 35-year-old underwent two operations after his left eyeball was torn by a dislodged bail off an Imran Tahir delivery during a warm-up match prior to a three-Test series in England earlier in July.

Doctors had feared he would be left totally blind in the damaged eye, but the prognosis has improved over time.

“Due to the severity of the injury, as well as the pain related to the recent lengthy surgical procedure, Mark has been strictly house-bound,” said Sandell.

“Over the next three to six months, Mark will undergo further surgery procedures in an attempt to improve his vision.”

Boucher, whose Test career spanned 15 years, immediately retired from international cricket following the injury.