Reid completes second surgery, outcome for full vision still unclear

WASHINGTON — Following a second surgery on Wednesday, the outcome still is unclear whether Sen. Harry Reid will regain full vision in his damaged right eye.

Reid was released from George Washington University Hospital Wednesday evening after undergoing a procedure on the eye that was badly injured in an exercise accident on New Year’s Day, spokeswoman Kristen Orthman said Thursday morning.

The surgery was completed on Wednesday afternoon and Reid “has been resting in his residence” since being sent home, she added.

“Doctors will continue to monitor his right eye and hope to have a clearer prognosis for his vision in the coming days,” Orthman said.

Congress is scheduled for a weeklong recess next week. Orthman said Reid, the Senate minority leader, expects to be back in the Capitol when the Senate reconvenes on Feb. 23.

“On doctor’s orders, Senator Reid will continue to rest his eye for the next few days but will be back in the office when the Senate reconvenes after the upcoming district work period,” she said.

Reid’s office offered no details of the surgery that was performed on Wednesday. He underwent an initial procedure on Jan. 26 that reconstructed bones surrounding his eye, and drained blood that had pooled in the back of it.

Reid was stretching heavy exercise bands during a workout at his home in Henderson on New Year’s Day when he said one broke and snapped back into his face and knocked him into cabinets. Besides breaking facial bones, he broke four ribs and suffered a concussion.

Reid has said doctors were optimistic he would regain full sight in his damaged eye but that it would not be a “slam dunk.”

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC.