Michael Lynagh admits he "dodged a bullet" and may never regain full vision following a stroke.
The former Australia fly-half, who faced the Lions on four occasions in 1989, was omitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital last month after suffering a near fatal stroke.
And speaking upon his release from the hospital the 1991 World Cup winner revealed he had lost 45 per cent of the vision in his left eye.
"As Rob Henderson (Lynagh's neurologist) said to me: 'You haven't just dodged a bullet, you've dodged a cannonball,'" said the iconic fly-half.
But Henderson insists the Queensland legend had made a remarkable recovery after suffering a split wall in an artery at the back of his neck.
"It's amazing he's done as well as he has. It's a rare event and, in most cases, people can't stop it," added Henderson.
"Everyone was very worried. We've been there before, where we've seen people not make it back from that sort of stroke."
Lynagh won 72-caps during a glittering Test career that stretched 11 years. He vice-captained the Wallabies to World Cup glory in 1991 and led the team four years later in South Africa before joining Saracens.
