Now that he can see clearly again
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Williams has an eye disease called keratoconus, a degenerative disorder which warps the corneas and can potentially cause blindness if left untreated.
"It started to hinder my seeing the board when we went over plays, so I had to get it fixed," Williams said. "Once it starts messing with your craft, your career, you definitely have to put your attention on that before you do anything else."
The condition is rare, and there is no cure. But it can be controlled by surgery.
"I was scared," Williams acknowledged, "but also relieved that there was a treatment out there that could help me."
The procedure is called cross-linking, which limits the progression of the disease by strengthening the corneas. Williams had surgery on his more troublesome left eye before the 2017 season and had the right eye corrected earlier this month.
And now, the 340-pounder is eager to do his part to help the Ravens get back into the playoffs after a three-year absence.
"I can do everything I used to do," Williams declared. "Nothing is stopping me."
That's good news for the Ravens
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Williams missed four games with a foot injury last year. The Ravens went 1-3 without him and 8-4 when he was in the lineup.
"He's the main piece for our defense," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said.
Rajesh K. Rajpal, M.D., founder of See Clearly Vision Group in Virginia and an expert on laser eye surgery, performed both operations on Williams' eyes.
"It almost always affects both eyes 鈥?98 to 99 percent of the time 鈥?but usually one eye will be more severe," Rajpal said. "Now that both eyes are done, Brandon should be fine. But we will continue to monitor him to make sure it doesn't get worse."
Williams wears contact lenses to aid his vision, but removes them on game days.
"In his case, the lenses he's using allow him to function well enough in day-to-day activities," Rajpal said. "During the football season
Customized Miami Dolphins Jerseys , he plays without the lens because he doesn't want to take a chance of getting something beneath the lens and damaging his eye. That's OK, because he's doing things up close and a lot of it is about feel."
Rajpal added: "A baseball pitcher or a batter, it would be really tough for them to function without the contact lenses if they have this condition."
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham has undergone cross-linking and wears contact lenses on the field.
When Williams first experienced blurry vision, he figured he needed LASIK surgery. But Rajpal says LASIK would actually further thin the cornea.
"When we're doing the testing for LASIK, we do corneal topography, which maps the corneal curvature," Rajpal said. "If keratoconus is significant enough, we offer the cross-linking."
If left untreated, the disease can be dangerous.
"Then we have to a corneal transplant," Rajpal said. "Fortunately, the vast majority don't completely lose their vision."
Williams nevertheless knows he avoided a potentially life-changing situation.
"I am thankful for having my sight," he said. Then
Authentic Cody Latimer Jersey , with a chuckle, he added, "I don't have to be blind, so that's a plus."
The Latest from Super Bowl media night (all times local):
10:30 p.m. CT
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie spent Monday at the movies to get away from his own ”intensity.”
The team arrived in Minnesota for the Super Bowl on Sunday. With no media requirements until Monday night, Lurie went to see the film ”Molly’s Game.”
The film depicts the true story of former freestyle mogul skier Molly Bloom, who never got to the Olympics, in part because of injury. Her brother, receiver Jeremy Bloom, was a star at Colorado who was drafted in 2006 by – yep – the Eagles. He never played in the regular season.
”I am very intense,” Lurie described himself. ”So to relax, I spent the afternoon at the movies. `Molly’s Game’ was a bit ironic.”
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9:15 p.m. CT
Tom Brady is not looking to have the radio host who called his daughter ”an annoying little pissant” to lose his job.
The New England quarterback said early Monday he’s reconsidering whether to continue a long-running weekly radio appearance with the station. Hours later at the Super Bowl media night, Brady said he hopes WEEI host Alex Reimer doesn’t get fired.
Reimer made the remarks about Brady’s 5-year-old daughter after watching the first episode of a Brady documentary called ”Tom vs. Time” that is airing on Facebook. Reimer’s show aired Thursday
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The station said Reimer has been suspended indefinitely. Brady cut his appearance short Monday morning.
At media night, Brady said he ”never stayed away from criticism.” He said he didn’t think ”my children or anybody else’s children deserve to be in that.”
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8:20 p.m. CT
Robert Kraft recognizes how few fans his New England Patriots have outside of their region. He stops short of calling the negativity ”hatred.”
The Patriots owner said Monday night the booing of his team at the Grammy’s the previous night in New York is ”sort of a compliment, the Boston-New York thing. I’d rather be on the winning end. Remember for 34 years I used to sit in the stands and feel it from the other way.”
Kraft has been to nine Super Bowls as owner, losing his first appearance in 1997 against Green Bay. He believes the disdain for his team is actually rooted in respect for the Patriots.
”Once we went to the Super Bowl (the first time), a lot of people who had been kind and gracious changed,” he said. ”I think everyone loves a doormat in this league.”
Kraft said he thinks ”it’s good” for the NFL to have a dominant team, ”but there are 31 other cities that don’t agree.”
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