NBC: Costas out for a 2nd night of Sochi coverage

An eye infection will keep Bob Costas off NBC’s prime-time Olympic broadcast for a second straight night.

Costas said on a “Today” show phone call Wednesday that his eyes are so sensitive that they are tearing up even in dim light. Matt Lauer will again replace him.

Costas began the Olympics with a viral infection in his left eye, replacing his contact lenses with glasses. By Monday, the infection had spread to his right eye, both so reddened they became a topic of conversation for people watching the telecasts in the United States.

Lauer is doing double duty on the “Today” show, broadcast in mid-afternoon Sochi time and the prime-time broadcast done in the middle of the night local time.