What happened to Sen. Franken's glasses?

The four-eyed Senator has been wandering around with a naked face. Hot Dish explains why.

August 19, 2011 at 12:54PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

From Morning Hot Dish, the Star Tribune's AM political newsletter. To subscribe, go to http://www.startribune.com/membercenter.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken's been nearly unrecognizable lately.

He's shed his trademark glasses -- see photo gallery -- and wandered around with a naked face.

The explanation from Franken: He's had cataracts for the last five or six years and had surgery on his left eye to correct the problem last week.

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken pointed to his eye while greeting President Barack Obama upon his arrival on Air Force One Monday morning/Photo: Jeff Wheeler
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken pointed to his eye while greeting President Barack Obama upon his arrival on Air Force One Monday morning/Photo: Jeff Wheeler (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

But the glasses won't work with his half corrected vision.

He now sees better with his left eye than he's ever seen before and will have the right eye fixed next week, he said.

But don't worry spectacle fans, the glasses will return.

"I've worn glasses since I was three…I just like wearing glasses," he said.

Once both eyes are fixed, he plans to don bifocals.

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