Prime Minister Ehud Olmert underwent eye surgery on Friday morning, immediately upon his return from China. The operation on his eyelids was carried out by a plastic eye surgeon at a private medical clinic in Jerusalem. The prime minister was given local anesthesia allowing him to remain fully conscious during the 40-minute procedure.
Olmert attended the weekly Knesset meeting on Sunday and told parliament members, “don’t be alarmed by my swollen eyes this morning. I had my eyes treated and I’m fine. The swollenness will begin to go down tomorrow.”
The prime minister’s office noted that they didn’t find it necessary to update the public as part of regular procedure since it was insignificant.
Olmert suffered from “drooping eyelids,” an abnormality that blocks the view of the pupil and hinders one’s eyesight.