In response to last week's post on performance-enhancing surgery (4/21), reader James Meier pointed out an excellent article in the Sporting News about the newest in contact lenses. The article highlights Orioles' player Brian Roberts, who is off to a monster start and is the only known player in the major leagues wearing the new lenses. What do the lenses do?
- Known as performance-enhancing contact lenses, they were designed to help hitters pick up the seams on the ball better and to protect the eyes from the sun.
"They're almost like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses," Roberts says. "I could tell such a huge difference right away that I was willing to give them a shot."
- Seven years in the making by Nike and Bausch & Lomb, the lenses -- which will be known in the retail world as MaxSight -- are so new they have made their way only into a few major league clubhouses so far.
Roberts, the Orioles' leadoff hitter and second baseman, is the only player the Sporting News could confirm is wearing them in games. Reds center fielder Ken Griffey has tried them in batting practice and plans to break them out for real once he becomes more comfortable with them. Reds closer Danny Graves also is wearing them during pregame work. Red Sox pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Mike Timlin and Twins catcher Joe Mauer have been fitted.
Are the lenses behind Roberts' fast start? Even if they create no physical edge, is it the psychological edge that has helped him to a career-month? It is hard to say, but all fans should keep a close eye (pun alert) on these lenses and other technologies. Changes are gradual, but over time, technological advances such as these could have a far more serious impact than any performance-enhancing drug.
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