Sen. Harry Reid recuperating at home after eye surgery

By Katie Visconti

Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 | 3:25 p.m.

Sen. Harry Reid was released from the hospital this afternoon after undergoing three and a half hours of surgery in hopes of restoring vision in his injured right eye, according to a statement from his office.

Reid had surgery to repair broken facial bones and remove a blood clot in his right eye, which he injured on New Year’s Day.

Reid was exercising when a resistance band snapped and hit him in the face, causing him to fall. He also broke several ribs.

“Sen. 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,” spokesman Adam Jentleson said.

“Doctors have said they are optimistic about his prospects for regaining vision in his right eye, but there is no definitive verdict yet,” Jentleson said.

Reid will recuperate at home in Washington, D.C., this week and continue to monitor the Senate floor closely through meetings and phone calls with other senators, the White House and staff, Jentleson said.

Reid found out after a doctor’s appointment Tuesday that he would need the surgery, which was conducted at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.