The head of the Abbott family, Jack Abbott, has reportedly been away for a few weeks on an unplanned business trip, according to THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS. But for a good reason, Peter Bergman, who played Jack in the serial opera, had to immediately stop playing. According to Bergman, he needed immediate eye surgery to restore a damaged retina.

Bergman’s unexpected medical problem seemed to be an unplanned event. The actor spotted a weird occurrence on the inside corner of his left eye while en route to see his family on California’s central coast, but he kept it a secret. In his own words, “I was seeing something creeping into my vision throughout the course of that evening, and toward the end of the evening, it was like a curtain closing in toward the center of my seeing.

The following morning, when Bergman awoke, he knew right away that something was very wrong. Fortunately, his sister was able to make arrangements for him to visit a San Luis Obispo eye doctor, who determined that the problem was a detached retina. Bergman was advised by the doctor to have his urgent procedure at home in order to protect his vision. Fortunately, Mariellen Bergman knew the doctor’s sister-in-law in Los Angeles, and the actor already had a scheduled appointment for the following day.

A strategy was developed for Jack’s sudden departure when Bergman informed his Y&R superiors that he would be having surgery. His teammates’ compassion, especially during a particularly trying recovery, “made me feel really unique.” According to him, for seven days “I had to maintain my face parallel to the floor for 50 minutes out of every hour.” Bergman could watch television thanks to a unique “contraption” Mariellen set up, but she said, “My favorite activities are exercising and reading books, and I could do neither one.” It seemed to take an eternity.

Mishael Morgan (Amanda), a castmate who underwent the same treatment herself last spring, provided Bergman with a lot of support. According to him, “I gathered as much information about what to expect from her as I could.” She was outstanding.

The Emmy winner is glad to be working again at Y&R and is excited for Jack’s next “really good stuff.” He’s also quite appreciative that his medical problem was successfully treated. He said it was a wonderful journey and a brief experience with blindness. It served as a sobering reminder of the value of sight. Never consider it a given.