In 2003, Dr. Brian Debroff and Dr. Patricia Pahk lead a study titled, The Ability of Peri-orbitally Applied Anti-glare Products to Improve Contrast Sensitivity in Conditions of Sunlight Exposure.

Both doctors, established within their fields of opthalmologic medicine, obtained 46 subjects to prove or disprove the theory as to whether or not this black grease addition to the eyes would in fact help prevent glare and improve visual acuity while on the sports field.

It is a known fact that sun glare decreases athletes' contrast sensitivity. It impairs the ability to distinguish objects. At the time, numerous commercial products proclaimed to reduce glare but at the time did not include any proven clinical testing to back the claims. Dr. Debroff and Dr. Pahk took the anti-glare products to test in a clinical study to prove finally if the products use had any merit.

The primary objective of the study was to determine if glare-reducing products such as eye black grease and anti-glare stickers actually did reduce glare as well as improve contrast sensitivity during sunlight exposure such as that found on a football or soccer field during ball games.

For design and methods, the doctors procured 46 volunteer subjects for contrast sensitivity using a Pelli-Robson contrast chart. Each volunteer served as an internal control and then randomized to either application of eye black grease, anti-glare stickers, or petroleum jelly at the infra-orbital rim. The testing performances took place in conditions of unobstructed sunlight for better, less argumentative results.

The results of the analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between eye black grease (mean SD, Pelli-Robson value, 1.87 0.09 logMAR units) and antiglare stickers (1.75 0.14 logMAR units) in binocular testing (P =.02). no statistical difference resulted between the groups in the right eyes, left eyes, or in the combined data from the right and left eyes. Paired P t tests demonstrated a significant difference between control (mean SD, 1.77 0.14 logMAR units) and eye black grease (1.87 0.09 logMAR units) in binocular testing (P = .04). There was a significant difference between control (mean SD, 1.65 0.05 logMAR units) and eye black grease (1.67 0.06 logMAR units) in combined data from the right and left eyes (P = 0.02).

The conclusion of the report findings showed that eye black grease reduces glare and improves contrast sensitivity in conditions of sunlight exposure compared with the control and anti-glare stickers in binocular testing.

The tests performed by Dr. Debroff and Dr. Pahk proved in a clinical setting that the product eye black grease did in fact improve anti-glare and in turn assisted with improving visual acuity while on the field while playing sports when and where sunlight contributed problems with the sports athlete's vision.

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