JUPITER, Fla. --Marc Rzepczynski didn't require a lasik procedure to improve the vision in his left eye.

The St. Louis Cardinals reliever on Wednesday visited an optomologist, who issued a new prescription for Rzepczynski's left eye, injured in a golfing accident earlier this spring.

The lens immediately improved Rzepczynski's vision, but within three hours, he could see clearly out of the eye with no assistance.

"It was weird," Rzepczynski said Thursday morning. "I couldn't read Waino's (Adam Wainwright) jersey yesterday. I can read it perfectly today."

Rzepczynski will see the doctor again Friday morning and could receive clearance to pitch.

"I'm able to do everything, they say, except pitch in a game and have a ball come my way," Rzepczynski said. "I can work out, run (and) I'm going to throw a side (Thursday).

"So all that stuff is going on. Hopefully, Friday I'm cleared to go and can get back in a game and not have anything else happen. If I get cleared tomorrow, hopefully I'll be in a game this weekend."

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was encouraged with the update on Rzepczynski's condition.

"Hopefully, he'll be game-ready in the next day or so," Matheny said.

Rzepczynski was 1-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 70 games in 2012 when he was the lone lefty in the bullpen for the majority of the season. He yielded just a .164 average in the second half, when his ERA was 2.08 in 30 games.

Rzepczynski will have help from the left side of the bullpen this season. Randy Choate was signed as a free agent and will provide Matheny with more flexibility in late-inning situations.

Contact reporter David Wilhelm at dwilhelm@bnd.com or 239-2665.