Photo: PA
Mr Brown visited Moorfields in London, one of the world’s best-known eye hospitals, after surgeons found two small tears in his retina.
The disclosure comes just two weeks after Labour Party chiefs were angry with the BBC because Andrew Marr, the presenter, questioned the Prime Minister about his health, including his eyesight, during an interview.
Mr Marr asked Mr Brown if he has been taking prescription drugs after rumours spread on the internet that he was dependant on painkillers or antidepressants.
Mr Brown talked on the programme about losing the sight in one eye following a boyhood rugby. “I then had exactly the same thing happen in my second eye. I had the same retinal detachment. I had the same fear that therefore I might lose my sight in that eye,” he admitted.
In a carefully-worded statement, No 10 said today: “This summer Mr Brown had his annual eye check-up which was fine. Later he had his retina checked.
“After examinations, surgeons found that the retina had two minor tears. However, as there has been no further deterioration, and no change in his eye sight, they decided against further operations. Yesterday [Friday] Mr Brown visited Moorfields Hospital as part of regular checks on his eyes and this check was also fine.
“Mr Brown wants to thank the doctors and staff of the NHS particularly Moorfields Hospital. Were there to be any change, he would of course make a further statement.”
After the Andrew Marr Show late last month, senior Labour officials accused the BBC of smearing the Prime Minister. However, the BBC defended the tactics and a spokesman said: “Andrew was asking a legitimate question about the health of the leader of the country.” The spokesman refused to be drawn on whether Mr Marr and Barney Jones, the editor of the programme, had consulted executives at the BBC before deciding to ask Mr Brown whether he was taking prescription medication.
Later Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, said it was “absolutely ridiculous” to suggest the Mr Brown had a problem with pill use, and he blamed politically motivated bloggers for raising the possibility.
“We have seen out there on the internet, the blogosphere, all these extreme right-wing people trying to put these smears and rumours about, all completely groundless,” Lord Mandelson told GMTV. The BBC received more than 100 complaints about Mr Marr’s line of questioning on the day the show was broadcast.
Gordon Brown.
The British government has said that eyesight tests reveal Prime Minister Gordon Brown has two minor tears in the retina of his right eye.

Prime Minister Brown went to the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, England. A series of eyesight tests revealed that there were two small tears in his right retina, but no other deterioration in his eyesight.

Downing Street in Westminster has said that despite these results, Mr. Brown will not be undergoing any further operations. They commented: "This summer Mr Brown had his annual eye check-up which was fine. Later he had his retina checked. After examinations, surgeons found that the retina had two minor tears. However, as there has been no further deterioration, and no change in his eyesight, they decided against further operations. Yesterday Friday Mr. Brown visited Moorfields Hospital as part of regular checks on his eyes and this check was also fine. Mr. Brown wants to thank the doctors and staff of the NHS particularly Moorfields Hospital. Were there to be any change, he would of course make a further statement."

Gordon is already blind in his left eye after a rugby-related accident during his teenage years. The announce made earlier this week comes roughly two weeks after he made an appearance on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One as a guest on September 27, 2009. He was given some medical questions from Andrew Marr about his health, including if his eyes were OK, and if he took prescription painkillers, while on the air. As a result, the BBC received several hundred complaints from viewers.

Editor ''Barney Jones'' made an apology. In a statement he said: "We felt that with a general election looming and with former and current cabinet ministers warning of electoral defeat unless the party turned round its current position, a robust interview centred on the economy and the Prime Minister's leadership was appropriate.

"The former Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, suggested this month that health might be a reason for the Prime Minister to stand down and within the context of a long interview about policy it was reasonable also to ask Mr Brown about his health. The issue of his health and whether it affects his ability to perform the onerous job of leading the party and the country was pertinent, and has been raised with other Prime Ministers in the past."