The AFL has given Collingwood’s Mason Cox the go-ahead to wear prescription sunglasses in competitive matches.
The Magpie player has been left long-sighted after injuries sustained while playing. He has had several eye surgeries over the last three years.
Cox has been trialing the glasses throughout the pre-season. He finds them to be more effective than the contact lenses he wore in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
As reported on afl.com.au: “Cox first required eye surgery in 2019 after an accidental poke from then Gold Coast ruckman Peter Wright resulted in a torn retina. It was during that operation that surgeons discovered his other retina was also detached, following an incident in a contest against West Coast defender Tom Barrass in the 2018 Toyota AFL Grand Final loss against West Coast.”
Optometry Australia’s Chief Clinical Officer, Luke Arundel, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the AFL is taking eye-health seriously and allowing Mason Cox to wear glasses during matches.
“We don’t always think about eyesight as a crucial aspect of our physical health, especially when it comes to playing sport. But maintaining good vision is critical for living healthy and fulfilling lives – and also for good footy. Plus, the special specs will show everyone watching, including up and coming AFL stars, that wearing glasses isn’t a barrier for getting involved in the game.
“We encourage everybody involved in professional or recreational sports to take their eye-health seriously. It’s important to regularly visit an optometrist, to make sure you have good vision for life.”
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