Mario Balotelli's eye surgery...

Mario Balotelli has undergone successful eye surgery after an allergy made wearing contacts lenses impossible for the Italy and Manchester City striker.

Balotelli had the procedure Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, to avoid having photographers and reporters waiting for him outside a clinic in his hometown of Brescia.

'He had a few problems with contact lenses some years ago,' surgeon Emanuele Scuri told Sky Sport Italia.

'We waited for the defect to stabilise over the last four years and this was the right time to have the operation. His eyes did not tolerate the contact lenses and had problems at the start of the season.

'I think in around 10 days he should be ready to play again. Already this morning he asked if he could drive and I suggested he should get a lift until Thursday.

'We brought the operation forward by a day to avoid paparazzi. This surgery will enable Balotelli to see very well.'

The Italian will now rest for 10 days, which means he will miss key action for club and country.

He is sitting out Italy’s opening two World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta, and is doubtful for City’s Champions League opener against Real Madrid on September 18.

Balotelli is near-sighted and has worn contact lenses for years but the lenses have caused allergies recently and an abscess that led to conjunctivitis, which ruled him out of Italy’s friendly with England last month.