Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has no problem hitting homers at night, but day games give him trouble. “Guys with blue eyes have a tough time,” Hamilton said last month. “It’s just hard for me to see [at the plate] in the daytime ... Try to go up [to the plate] squinting and see a white ball while the sun is shining right off the plate ... and beaming right up in your face.”
Photo: Keith Allison
There is truth behind Hamilton’s “blue eye” theory. The phenomenon is called intraocular light scatter, says optometrist Richard L. Ison, who practices near Dallas. Dr. Ison told ESPNDallas.com that Hamilton just needs sunglasses that are comfortable enough to wear when at bat.
To that end, Hamilton came to batting practice on June 24 in red-colored contact lenses, which did seem to help.
“I’ve never worn contact lenses in my life and I really would like to see the ball in the daytime, so therefore I’m trying any means possible to do that,” Hamilton told ESPNDallas.com. “I actually care and I want to be better and I don’t want to suck in the day.”
