University Researchers Find No Improvement in Offensive Performance
There has been great public interest in laser refractive eye surgery (e.g. LASIK) with many prominent sports figures advocating its benefits. Two university researchers studied the offensive performance of a dozen Major League hitters who had undergone these procedures.
The study concluded that there was no offensive benefit to undergoing the refractive surgical procedure in these players. In addition, due to the well-established risks of these elective surgical procedures, the authors conclude that players may be best served by waiting until the end of their baseball career before performing the procedure. Players at all levels may wish to reconsider their plans to undergo a refractive surgical procedure based on these findings.
Drs. Kirschen and Laby have evaluated several thousand players at the Major League and minor league levels. They have applied a rigorous scientific approach to their testing, evaluation and intervention and have gained the respect of the baseball community at large, as evidenced by frequent lectures during the Major League Baseball winter meetings. Drs. Laby and Kirschen were the first to critically describe the elite visual function of professional baseball players and have developed a “visual profile” of the typical Major League player.
Daniel M. Laby, MD, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard University, and David G. Kirschen, OD, PhD, Professor of Optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry and director of the binocular vision section of the Jules Stein Eye Institute/UCLA Medical Center, have each over 14 years’ experience working with Major League Baseball teams and players in both the American and National Leagues.
From: PR Newswire