Neal Collins CRICKET Brian Lara might need an eye operation at the end of the West Indies current series against England. The world’s highest-scoring batsman, who bounced back to form with a match-saving century at Old Trafford, suffers from tyrigium – a condition which causes a “skin” to grow over the eyeball. The disease – which also plagued West Indies “masterblaster” Viv Richards – causes irritation of the eye and can lead to blurring while batting. Lara said: “As a batsman, my eyes are the most important part of my body. If the doctors tell me I need to have the operation straight away, then so be it.” Lara (31) will have an examination after the fifth Test at The Oval next month when the specialists will decide whether he needs surgery. “This has been causing me concern for some time. I’m determined to give myself the best possible chance for the future. When it gets bad, it feels like I’ve got grit in my eye – that’s the last thing you need in the middle of an innings. It doesn’t affect my vision much but sometimes I do have trouble seeing the ball against certain backgrounds.
“There is apparently a small chance that the eye could be damaged during the removal of the skin – and it can also grow back faster after surgery.” Lara first suffered the problem during England’s visit to the Caribbean in 1994. He saw a doctor during the Old Trafford Test and drops were recommended. He says: “Viv Richards had successful surgery for this condition so I will do what I am told by the specialists. It looks fairly unpleasant – people see the redness of my eyes and ask what’s wrong. Some even ask me what I’ve been smoking!” Leading eye specialist Sherylle Calder said: “Tyrigium is fairly common among players who been been brought up in a hot climate. There are excercises he can do if his contrast sensitivity has been affected.”
ENDS.