The mayor of Boston has undergone surgery to help lift his
eyelids.
Thomas Menino suffers from a condition known as ptosis which
affects the tendons holding up his eyelids, according to a report by the Boston
Globe. With age, these tendons can stretch and start to hang lower, partially
obscuring the eyes.
The hour-long surgical procedure, known as
blepharoplasty, was carried out on Wednesday with the aim of improving the
mayor's vision by bolstering the tendons which control the movement of his
upper eyelids.
Ophthalmologist Dr Mami Iwamoto, who carried out the
procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital, said incisions made in the mayor's
eyelids would result in significant swelling and bruising. He stressed the need
for the operation was medical, not cosmetic.
"It's like looking out a porthole with a shade
down," said Dr Iwamoto. "The shade interferes with the view out the
porthole.
"His ptosis occurred over a long period of time. It was
very gradual. It can creep up on people. It's not like a sudden thing."
City officials are reported to have confirmed
that the mayor is now recovering following the operation.
