NFL referees have been under fire for missing critical calls during some of the league’s biggest games, and one company has decided to take matters into their own hands. LASIK, the well-known vision correction provider, is offering free eye procedures to referees in an attempt to put an end to the frustration of missed calls and ensure they all have 20/20 vision.
Following Thursday night’s thrilling AFC North matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, LASIK took to social media to make its tongue-in-cheek offer. The game ended in controversy after officials failed to throw flags on two potential game-changing plays in the final seconds—a missed facemask and a holding penalty on Cincinnati’s two-point conversion attempt that could have led to a win for the Bengals.
The Ravens ultimately emerged victorious with a narrow 35-34 victory, but not without backlash from fans over the officiating.
Shortly after the game, LASIK hopped onto social media with a public plea directed at the referees. The company humorously suggested that they could help the officials see the game more clearly by providing free eye surgeries, once again making the pitch to “fix” the zebras’ vision and save the day for frustrated fans and players alike.
This isn’t the first time LASIK has offered its services to beleaguered officials. Just last month, they made a similar proposal during the Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings game when officials missed an obvious facemask call on Rams quarterback Sam Darnold.
The missed call left players, fans, and commentators alike outraged, and LASIK was quick to step in with their tongue-in-cheek solution.
LASIK even launched a nomination process called “Better Vision, Better Call,” allowing fans to recommend any official from any sport that they believe is in dire need of a vision update. The lighthearted initiative has been gaining traction as sports enthusiasts everywhere look for ways to improve the quality of officiating and ensure that critical moments aren’t decided by poor eyesight.
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It’s not just the fans who are fed up with the refs. Legendary commentator Al Michaels didn’t hold back his frustration during Thursday’s broadcast, openly lamenting the state of officiating in the NFL. “Too many games end this way,” Michaels said, echoing the sentiments of countless viewers. “They just do. You miss calls, the whole thing. So frustrating to the fans, so frustrating.”
LASIK’s social media presence hasn’t slowed down, and they were back at it on Sunday, calling out missed calls during another round of NFL games. The company’s playful approach to the ongoing debate about officiating has added some levity to a situation that often leaves fans feeling irate and helpless.
While there’s no word yet on whether any NFL referees will take LASIK up on their generous offer, many diehard football fans certainly hope that the officials will at least consider it. The promise of better vision—and by extension, better officiating—could be just what the league needs to restore some confidence in the referees and ensure that the best team wins without controversy.
For now, the proposal remains on the table, and fans will have to wait and see if any officials decide to take advantage of LASIK’s goodwill.
In the meantime, players, coaches, and fans across the league continue to cross their fingers and hope that key moments in games are called correctly, allowing the players on the field—not officiating errors—to determine the outcomes of these high-stakes matchups.
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