Warren recovers from “excruciating” eye injury

Megachurch leader Rick Warren injured his eyes in a gardening accident at his California home Monday, his publicist said. While pruning firestick bushes in his yard, Warren apparently got the poisonous sap from the plants in both of his eyes, said A. Larry Ross on Thursday. “He was using gloves to protect his hands and […]

Megachurch leader Rick Warren injured his eyes in a gardening accident at his California home Monday, his publicist said.

While pruning firestick bushes in his yard, Warren apparently got the poisonous sap from the plants in both of his eyes, said A. Larry Ross on Thursday.

“He was using gloves to protect his hands and after gathering up all the leaves had the gloves off, and … wiped the sweat off his brow,” Ross said, describing the resulting pain as “12 on a scale of 10.”


He said Warren experienced “some temporary vision impairment” but doctors expect him to recover fully.

Warren, 56, talked about the incident Thursday on Twitter, saying he had been in “excruciating pain” and asking his supporters to “pray my sight loss is restored.”

He sent later Tweets confirming that he was not blind and giving thanks for the prayers on his behalf.

Warren spent one night in the hospital and is recovering at home, wearing protective contacts and using ointments and painkillers.

“Fortunately, he’s seeing well enough to tweet this morning,” Ross said.

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