Whose Line Is It Anyway? comic Colin Mochrie undergoes surgery after he’s rushed to hospital with eye injury

Comic Colin Mochrie has began the new year on a difficult note, as he was rushed to the hospital for an emergency ocular surgery on Friday.

The 68-year-old comedian, best known for his appearances on the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, had to postponed multiple dates of his comedy tour after doctors diagnosed him with a detached retina.

Mochrie updated his fans on his progress in a joint post with collaborator Asad Mecci and their HYPROV show on Friday.

The statement read, ‘We regret to inform you that our upcoming show will be postponed due to a medical situation involving Colin Mochrie.

‘Colin has been diagnosed with a detached retina and will be undergoing emergency eye surgery today.’

The post made clear that while Mochrie’s ‘medical team is optimistic about his full recovery … he needs time to rest and heal.’

Comic Colin Mochrie has began the new year on a difficult note, as he was rushed to the hospital for an emergency surgery on Friday. Pictured 2013 in Toronto

Mochrie ‘is incredibly grateful for your support and well wishes,’ according to the statement.

The post from the HYPROV show, which commenced with dates last month, was captioned, ‘We are so sorry and we wish @colinmochrie7591 a speedy recovery.’

The Mayo Clinic says a ‘retinal detachment happens when the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye pulls away from its regular position.

‘The longer retinal detachment goes without treatment, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye.’

According to the clinic, symptoms of the condition include ‘reduced vision, the sudden appearance of dark floating shapes and flashes of light in your vision, and loss of side vision.’

The HYPROV tour, which is a blend of comedy and hypnotism, began last month and is slated to continue through April.

The format of the show sees Mecci and Mochrie pick 20 people who volunteer to be hypnotized by Mecci.

Mochrie then does his comedy act with the people who are hypnotized in what organizers characterize as ‘part mind experiment, part comedy lab, and 100 percent entertainment.

Mochrie has been a regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway? for more than three decades on both the American and British incarnations of the comedy series. Pictured in May in Toronto

Mochrie updated his fans on his progress in a joint post with collaborator Asad Mecci and their HYPROV show on Friday 

‘With improvised music driving the rhythm, every performance is a one-of-a-kind high-wire act of comedy, chaos, and connection.’

Other notable entertainers to join Mecci onstage on the tour have included Stephanie Courtney, Barrett Foa, Jeff Hiller, Jonathan Mangum, Amber Nash, Gary Mindy Sterling and Anthony Williams.

Mochrie, who was on born in Kilmarnock, Scotland and raised in Canada, ‘looks forward to being back on stage and sharing many more laughs with all of you in the near future,’ the statement read. 

Mochrie has been a regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway? for more than three decades on both the American and British incarnations of the comedy series.