Mandela Returns Home After Cataract Surgery
- Share via
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — President Nelson Mandela went home for a week of rest Thursday after cataract surgery complicated by eye damage from his years breaking rocks as a prisoner.
Mandela, who turns 76 on Monday, said before the surgery Wednesday that he expected to miss only a day of work.
But a form of conjunctivitis that destroyed his tear glands made the three-hour procedure on Mandela’s left eye “very difficult” and kept surgeons from working on his right eye, Dr. Percy Amoils said. Surgery on the right eye will be rescheduled.
Smashing limestone rocks at Robben Island prison for nearly two decades caused the tear-gland damage, his surgeons said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
