LASIK helps players elevate their game

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

After years of playing football with contact lenses, several Chargers players decided to improve their vision with Custom LASIK surgery performed by the Chargers Team Ophthalmologist and LASIK surgeon, Dr. Mihir (Max) Parikh. 

Recently, starting cornerback Quentin Jammer and wide receiver Kassim Osgood decided to place their trust in the skilled hands of Dr. Parikh to perform advanced laser vision correction that helped improved their vision.  

"LASIK has made me a better football player and improved my depth perception on the field," Jammer said.  

Jammer had LASIK before the 2005 season to help him locate the ball in flight.  Although he's recognized as one of the best cornerbacks in the league at coverage and tackling, Jammer wanted to improve his ball skills and turned to LASIK, which helped him get three interceptions so far this season.  

"I can just see better, and I don't have to deal with the hassle of wearing or losing a contact," Jammer said. "It helps me make plays on the ball because my vision is much sharper."  

Jammer and Osgood both said they wish they had the surgery sooner in their careers. In the past, Osgood was playing with no correction, despite less than perfect vision because contacts were too uncomfortable for him.  

"It's amazing how much better I can see after LASIK," Osgood said. "I decided to do it with Dr. Parikh because everybody I talked to said they liked the procedure and the results."

"We love the Chargers and like to think their enhanced LASIK vision helps the players improve their game on the football field,” said Dr. Parikh. "Anything we can do to help our Chargers win football games is extremely rewarding to all of us."

Dr. Parikh's patients might even see a Chargers player walking the halls of his La Jolla practice at Advanced Ophthalmology Institute.  He is proud to be in his fourth season as the Official Team Ophthalmologist and LASIK Surgeon of the San Diego Chargers.  

"Our marriage with the Chargers has worked out well," Dr. Parikh said. "Pro players come to us for the same reason as most of our clients -- they want to see better while playing sports and in their daily lives, without having to depend on glasses and contact lenses.   My ultimate satisfaction is helping the Chargers and our fellow San Diegan's see great with laser vision correction, often better than ever before."