He had cataract surgery aged 75 in 1994, shortly after becoming president of South Africa, and press photographers were asked to turn off camera flashes when photographing him.
2012: Stomach Pain
In February 2012, Mandela underwent a minor exploratory laparoscopy procedure to investigate persistent abdominal pain.
2011-Present Day: Lung Infection
In January 2011, at 92, he spent two days in the hospital with an acute respiratory infection. The following year, in December 2012, Mandela underwent nearly three weeks of treatment for his lung infection, as well as gallstone surgery.
Mandela returned to the hospital again on March 27, 2013 for 10 days of treatment for pneumonia when doctors drained a build-up of fluid from his chest, known as a pleural effusion.
Most recently, he was readmitted to the hospital with a renewed lung infection.
Nelson Mandela: His 5 Surprising Health Conditions was originally published on blackdoctor.org