Pre gamelakers
Los Angeles Lakers
Pre-Game Interview
November 11, 2000
Paul Sunderland: So those ugly black glasses are gone for good. Kurt Rambis will be without specs forever and a day. And the man he has to thank for that, Dr. Andrew Caster, is our very special guest. We welcome you. Kurt Rambis a study in bravery going under that surgery, no doubt about it. We’re joking a little about it, but so many world class athletes are having the procedure. But you know a lot of everyday spectators out there are watching. Who’s a real candidate for this procedure?
Dr. Andrew Caster: Paul, anybody who wears glasses or contact lenses in order to see well far away is a candidate for the procedure. But not everybody who wears glasses or contacts will want to have this procedure, because some people for certain technical reasons won’t be good candidates. It’s really important that they have a very thorough check-up with somebody who’s really experienced before they have the procedure.
Kurt Rambis: Well doctor, I’ve been wanted to ask you this for a long time. How did this procedure come about? I mean you cut a part of the eye, you zap it with a laser and I can see better. How did all that come about?
Dr. Caster: Kurt, Lasik is very easy from the patient’s viewpoint but there are many different steps that go into the Lasik procedure, so it wasn’t that one morning somebody woke up and said “We’re going to do it this way.” About 12 years ago is when all the different pieces fit together and we’ve been doing this procedure for about 12 years this way.
Paul Sunderland: Think people would be interested to understand how it might help a basketball player shooting from distance or a golfer sinking a 30 ft. putt. How will this kind of procedure help them perform to what was once their optimal visual dexterity?
Dr. Caster: Well Paul, for instance our very own Laker Rick Fox. I performed his procedure a couple of months ago.
Paul Sunderland: He’s off to kind of a slow start, you know.
Dr. Caster: He has been off to a slow start, but he tells me that it has nothing to do with his vision. He used to wear contact lenses and the contacts would rotate on his eyes and he says that when he would look up to shoot it would be blurry quite frequently and now he doesn’t have that problem.
Kurt Rambis: Are there different kinds of lasers out there? I know my son plays with a laser and he messes around with his friends in the house, but that’s not the same thing, is it?
Dr. Caster: No, no, no. There are many different types of lasers and there are also many types of lasers to actually do the Lasik procedure. A lot of the public doesn’t really understand that lasers are sort of like cars. There are many different types and they’re different quality. Some lasers are more accurate than other lasers and they produce better results.
Paul Sunderland: I know you’re sitting next to Kurt and it probably would’ve been a better idea to put you over on my side so you can answer this question honestly, but you know, I heard he was was kind of a wimp. (AIC-chuckling) The teddy bear, the whole nine yards.
Dr. Caster: Everybody uses the teddy bear, everybody is afraid. Kurt wasn’t anymore afraid than anybody else. I do want to say that I’ve always been a big fan of Kurt Rambis’ ever since back in the 80’s, ever since he helped the Lakers win those four championships.
Paul Sunderland: (Chuckling) OK, we’re buying it, we’re buying it.
Dr. Caster: It was really my honor to take care of him.
Paul Sunderland: Andrew, pleasure to meet you, you’re doing a great service for a lot of people out there. The ability to see. (To Rambis) Just think if you would’ve had this years ago, I mean just think how good you could…
Kurt Rambis: Yeah, I know I could’ve made one more lay up.
Paul Sunderland: I know we’re out of time. Andrew Caster, our special guest; Kurt Rambis always a good sport.