'Fox & Friends' host Lawrence Jones reveals painful eye surgery details

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAYThu, February 19, 2026 at 8:03 PM UTC

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Lawrence Jones attends FOX Nation's 2024 Patriot Awards at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2024, in Greenvale, New York.

Lawrence Jones didn't think much of his vision issues, until doctors told him he had a detached retina and was "going blind in one eye by the day."

The "Fox & Friends" anchor, 33, who has made history as the youngest Black cohost in cable news, revealed in late January that he would be stepping away from the Fox morning show to undergo eye surgery following vision problems that turned out to be more serious than he initially realized.

Jones says he has always wore glasses or contacts, and has always seen better with his left eye than with his right, so nothing tipped him off about any potential bigger issue until a friend's wife suggested he see a specialist.

"I just really didn't put any stock into it, you know, typical man," Jones tells USA TODAY. "Holistic fitness is one thing, but actually going and seeing a doctor is another thing for many of us. So I went to the doctor as more of a, 'let me scratch this off the list' thing."

He said he went to see Dr. Donald D'Amico, ophthalmologist-in-chief at New York Presbyterian Hospital, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Cornell, and an internationally recognized leader in vitreoretinal surgery. Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine focused on the medical and surgical care of the eyes, while vitreoretinal surgery includes procedures that treat conditions like retinal detachment.

Lawrence B. Jones and Jessica Tarlov speak at the 6th Annual All-American Christmas Tree Lighting at Fox News Channel Studios on Nov. 21, 2025, in New York City.

'Fox & Friends' host Lawrence Jones gives update on 'intense surgery'

Three-hour appointment led to Lawrence Jones' detached retina diagnosis

That appointment took three hours and four doctors to fully diagnose Jones' detached retina, which was determined through a very small tear.

When a retina detaches, it lifts away from the back of the eye, separating it from its blood supply, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The condition can cause blurred and obscured vision, while more serious cases can result in sudden permanent vision loss or blindness.

Jones had to sign off on multiple surgeries in the event that other issues became apparent after he was put under anesthesia, which ultimately didn't become an issue.

"Essentially, I was going blind in one eye by the day," he says, adding his condition has been described as genetic, with other members of his family having vision issues, just not to this extent. While considers himself to be pretty conscientious about his health, this condition could not have prevented. "I thought I had missed something," he says.

The surgery lasted an hour and a half, and he was awake for most of it.

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"There was actually one point when they first started the surgery, because obviously, the reporter in me, I was interviewing the doctor in the middle of the surgery," Jones laughs. "And he was like, 'Wait ... You're supposed to be going under!'"

'Fox & Friends' host is healing on-air

The journalist says he was told he could go back to work in days, though his doctor missed the part about Jones being a morning news anchor. He spent three weeks away from "Fox & Friends," and during the first two weeks, the recovery was painful. He didn't go anywhere without sunglasses, and the drapes in his house stayed closed. But by the third week, he was getting antsy and returned to work on Feb. 2.

"I still have some sensitivity to light," Jones adds, noting he wears a special type of glasses that help block light. "There's still some swelling. But I thought it was important to not just let the visual appearance stop me from getting back to the job, even though people have to watch me every single day when one eye open completely and the other one half open."

Jones previously had LASIK surgery, saying it's unclear whether the tear on his eye came before or after the procedure. His eyesight is expected to be better post-operation, with progressive improvement over the next six months.

Amid his absence, the libertarian political commentator says his Fox News family - including his "Fox & Friends" cohosts Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt, mentor Sean Hannity and "The Five" cohost Dana Perino - were all checking in, adding his colleagues have been "super supportive."

Lawrence Jones, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade attend FOX Nation's 2024 Patriot Awards at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2024, in Greenvale, New York.

"I grew up with Fox. I was 21 when I started first appearing on the network. I'm 33 now, and so as much as I try to escape it, I'm still a little brother to many of my colleagues," he says. "Everybody was sending me food as if I was in bereavement. And I'm like, 'Everyone, I'm not dying. I'm going to be OK.'"

The notably private anchor says his coworkers were also careful to respect his privacy while he was away. However, some viewers were still fixated on what was behind his absence.

"When there's a void of information, conspiracies happen," he laughs. "And so, I put a social media post out there. For some, that was not enough. I called into the show, and it was like, 'OK. I guess he is good,' you know? 'He hasn't been fired.' There's no scandal."

Viewers will be able to see Jones' daily progress live on air, something he says is intentional. He stresses that if there's one thing he hopes people take from his experience, it's to understand the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, and consider seeing a specialist for more than just updating a prescription.

"I would suggest that anybody, if you have any type of vision issues, to actually go to a doctor that is not just there to do the nuts and bolts," he says.

Contributing: Melina Khan, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fox & Friends' Lawrence Jones on surgery for detached retina

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