According to son, Sam Snead’s vision did not benefit from the controversial therapy
by Dan Roberts
Originally published, January 20, 2003
Microcurrent stimulation (MCS) therapy “didn’t work for my father,” said Sam Snead, Jr., son of the late champion golfer. Sam Snead, Sr., who passed away last year at the age of 89, underwent MCS therapy for macular degeneration in 1998. His name has since been used to promote the experimental treatment, and his son would like to see the testimonial removed.
In 1998, MCS was administered to Snead in South Dakota by John Jarding, O.D. Dr. Jarding, an optometrist, learned the procedure from one of its developers, Leland Michael, O.D. (now deceased).
“Immediately following the treatment,” reported Snead’s son in a recent interview, “Dad may have noticed a slight improvement (no more than one line on the vision chart), but it was only for a matter of hours. After that, and after using the portable machine at home, there was no noticeable difference in his vision. Actually, his sight grew gradually worse through his final years.”
Sam, Jr. said that when the Snead name started being used to promote MCS, “Dad didn’t want to disappoint anyone, so he didn’t say anything. Then, when his golfing partner, Paul Harvey, announced it on the radio, everything was blown out of proportion.”
“We were bombarded with thousands of calls from people all over the country wanting to know more about it,” said Sam, Jr. “In every case, we discouraged the callers from spending money on microcurrent stimulation based upon Dad’s experience, because it just didn’t work for him. His name should not be used to promote this therapy.”