Devils defenseman Colin White did suffer damage to his right eye when struck by a puck last week, and specialists are still trying to determine its extent and the proper treatment, GM Lou Lamoriello said last night.

Lamoriello said the 29-year-old can see out of his injured eye but is out of action indefinitely. The GM would not divulge the nature of the damage to White’s eye, nor whether there is retinal detachment.

Earlier yesterday, coach Brent Sutter allowed that he’s operating as if he won’t have White for next Thursday’s opener in Tampa, but referred questions of White’s condition to Lamoriello.

White was struck around the eye in practice Sept. 19 when a teammate’s shot deflected up White’s stick on his block attempt. The Devils had previously hoped White would be able to return to action soon after the swelling diminished, but it appears White will miss considerable time.