Watson OK After Eye Surgery

When the doctor was preparing to perform laser eye surgery on Earl Watson, the UCLA guard was worried.

Then the surgery to repair a hole in his left retina lasted just 15 minutes, and Watson felt fine.

"It was stressful," he said. "It was scary, somebody doing something with my eye. But it was cool. Technology is amazing."

Watson underwent the laser procedure at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute around noon on Monday. By late afternoon, he was at Pauley Pavilion, along with Dr. Steven Schwartz, answering reporters' questions.

Watson did miss the Bruins' practice, but is expected to be able to participate in their upcoming workouts and to start against Iowa State in the NCAA tournament on Thursday at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The small retinal tear, which Schwartz believes existed for some time, probably would have gone undetected if Watson had not caught an elbow above the eye in the Bruins' 105-70 victory over Maryland in the Midwest Regional last Saturday.

Watson had four stitches to close that cut, and woke up Monday morning with the eye very sore and almost swollen shut. He had the eye examined, and the retinal hole was discovered.

"Otherwise, It probably wouldn't have been found until physicals before next season," Schwartz said.

The doctor then performed the routine laser surgery to repair the damage.

Watson's eye was still swollen half-shut caused by the blow, not the laser surgery on Monday afternoon.

"So long as he is able to see OK, I don't think it will be any problem," UCLA coach Steve Lavin said of Watson, who had a school record 16 assists, plus 17 points, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and no turnovers against Maryland.

Schwartz said the retinal hole could have become a problem if it was not repaired, thus the quick surgery. He added that Watson's vision is unchanged.

Asked how he felt, the 6-foot-1 junior said, "Actually, I'm hungry."

Schwartz quipped: "That's how we want him, hungry and focused."

Watson has not missed a game during his three-year UCLA career, playing in all 96 contests.

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