Old-fashioned eye black consisted of burnt cork and shoe polish, while the modern version is made of beeswax, paraffin and charcoal powder -- there is even a waterproof version for surfers. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was one of the first athletes to use eye black. The main advantage is glare reduction, but that's not the only benefit. Sweat and oil produced by the skin reflect light into the eyes, so eye black works for athletes regardless of skin tone.
Glare
Whether it's from the sun or harsh stadium lighting, glare causes a problem for athletes looking to optimize their performance. Serious baseball and football players use eye black to help deal with glare. Eye black smeared under the eyes helps reduce glare reflecting off the skin under strong lighting. This improves contrast sensitivity, or the ability to see objects that don't stand out from their backgrounds, such as a fast-moving ball against the sun or stadium lighting.
Intimidation
Some athletes wear eye black because they believe it intimidates opponents. According to defensive end Tim Heagy at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, using eye black might give the athlete an advantage because it conveys a bit of craziness. Used almost the same way as war paint, eye black expresses an athlete's intent to give his all during a game.
Looks
Athletes may use eye black simply because they like the way it looks. You don't have to place eye black under your eyes -- athletes use it on their cheeks and other areas as a fashion accessory or a way to express a personal message. Facial decals and matte black stickers are used as accessories, too. Players sometimes paint their entire faces with eye black in intricate designs.
Other Factors
If you have blue eyes, you won't have the same contrast sensitivity benefits as other athletes. This may happen because people with blue eyes have less of a problem with glare because their eyes are naturally better at scattering light. Also, eye black does not improve an athlete's performance when he is playing indoors. While eye black does reduce glare, similar accessories such as anti-glare stickers are not effective.
References
- Boston.com; Eye Black Used to Cut Glare, or Turn Up Spotlight; Jere Longman; December 2006
- Inquiry Journal; Why Do Athletes Use Eye Black?; Benjamin R. Powers
- Yale Office of Public Affairs and Communications; Eye Black Grease More Effective at Reducing Glare and Improving Visual Contrast than Anti-Glare Stickers, Yale Researchers Find; July 2003
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