Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was released from the hospital in Washington on Monday afternoon after successful surgery to remove a blood clot in his right eye, his office said.
His spokesman Adam Jentleson said the senator was resting at home and in good spirits, “cracking jokes” with his wife. He added, “Doctors have said they are optimistic about his prospects for regaining vision in his right eye but there is no definitive verdict yet.”
Jentleson’s full statement is below:
“Senator Reid was released from the hospital this afternoon and is currently sitting in his living room with Mrs. Reid, cracking jokes and asking about the whip count for this evening’s vote on the Keystone pipeline legislation.
“The surgery took three and a half hours and was successful in removing the blood clot in his right eye, additional blood from the front of his right eye and repairing the orbital bones in his right brow, temple and cheek. During the surgery, Senator Reid was under full anesthesia. Doctors have said they are optimistic about his prospects for regaining vision in his right eye but there is no definitive verdict yet. Senator Reid will recuperate from his residence this week and continue to monitor the Senate floor closely through meetings and phone calls with his fellow senators, the White House and staff.”
Reid suffered an exercising injury early this month.
Get well soon, Senator Reid.
I would feel very bad for Sen. Reid if he does indeed lose his vision in one eye.
However, this is an excellent chance to start sporting an eye patch. It would make for some lively floor speeches.
Too bad Talk Like a Pirate Day isn’t coming up soon.
There’s no one reading this who isn’t grateful for vision in both eyes even with corrective lenses. I’ll have to pose as a Nevadan and try to get a message to him. But doctors are optimistic so there’s that.
Good luck to him and his family. I wish him a speedy recovery.