Watson Has Surgery for Eye Problem

UCLA junior point guard Earl Watson figured that he’d have some swelling above his left eye after needing four stitches to close a wound suffered in the first half of the Bruins’ rousing 105-70 NCAA second-round win over Maryland.

He got that and more Monday morning. Watson underwent a 15-minute surgical procedure to repair a retinal hole in his left eye at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Retina specialist Dr. Steven Schwartz performed the laser procedure after examining Watson. He said the surgery was not related to the blow Watson took from a Maryland player in the first half Saturday, but from a preexisting condition undetected until now.

“The swelling that he has above his eyelid is not because of the surgery we had today,” Schwartz said. “The surgery that he had today was on the inside of the back of his eye. The laser comes down through the eye and tacks the retina down like glue.

“He’s really already recovered from that.”

Fresh off the best game of his collegiate career, the last thing Watson wanted was something that would keep him from leading the Bruins’ run to the Midwest Regional semifinals. The Bruins face Iowa State on Thursday night.

Watson had 17 points and a school-record 16 assists with no turnovers.

“In the morning, I woke up and my eye was throbbing,” he said. “Actually, Coach [Steve] Lavin kind of panicked and said, ‘You’ve got to get that checked out.’ ”

Watson did not practice Monday but said he is ready to go.

“I’m just hoping they get the swelling down by Thursday,” he said. “I’m comfortable with it. I’m just ready to play.”