On the morning after President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, leaves a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, after telling reporters that he has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress on dealing with terrorism, but did not consult the White House on the invitation. From left are, Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kansas, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif. and Boehner. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will undergo surgery on his right eye next week after doctors determined it is a “necessary step to assist in recovering full vision” after an accident suffered while exercising, his office announced Wednesday.
The statement said Reid is expected to be released from the hospital quickly after the operation, but will need to remain home for several days to minimize strain on the injured eye. It provided no details about the nature of the surgery.
The 75-year-old Reid was not in his office Wednesday, although on Tuesday he made his first appearance in the Capitol since the accident.
He suffered the eye injury as well as broken ribs on New Year’s Day, when a piece of exercise equipment he was using broke and sent him smashing into cabinets at his new home in Nevada.
The Nevada Democrat has said the injuries won’t prevent him from running for a sixth term next year, and his office has worked hard to emphasize that he is continuing to work while he’s been recuperating.
It released a photo of Reid meeting at his Washington home last week with other members of the Democratic leadership, and recently announced federal funding for his home state of Nevada.
It coupled the announcement of surgery with a statement that the broken ribs Reid suffered in the accident are healing well and “he will continue to maintain a busy schedule next week as his right eye heals.”
Reid’s office also posted a Twitter photo of him sitting at his desk in his Senate office on Tuesday.
Asked Tuesday by reporters how he was feeling, he replied, “Not bad,” and said his injured eye was “doing better.”
Later in the day, he visited the doctor and learned surgery would be necessary.
