The AFL has approved prescription sunglasses that Collingwood forward-ruck Mason Cox sought permission to wear in the wake of multiple eye surgeries and vision problems.
The eyewear has been supplied and dispensed by EyeSports, owned by Mr John Carbury in the regional Victorian town of Colac, after Cox’s career faced an uncertain future.
The American has reportedly required six surgeries – three on his left eye, two on the right, including two retinal tears, and cataract surgery – in recent years.
The Age reported that he had battled to find the right mix of contact lenses and medication following surgery. His left eye was also left “over-exposed” because his pupil doesn’t constrict, causing issues with the new LED lights at the MCG.
He has also been left long-sighted in his left eye and has found the sunglasses more effective, after using contact lenses in 2020 and 2021 which were sometimes knocked out mid-match.
Cox debuted his new specs in a pre-season match against Hawthorn on Friday 25 February in Morwell.
In an interview with 7NEWS, he showed off several pairs of his new eyewear, featuring different tints, which he would select dependent on the light conditions.
“It’s something that is normalised in other sports but no one has really seen it in the AFL,” he said.
Cox won’t be the first high profile player to wear prescription glasses. Former Essendon forward Geoff Blethyn did in his two stints between 1968-76, The Age reported.
More reading
Mason Cox set to wear prescription sunglasses for 2022 AFL season
Corneal erosion more painful than any physical injury for rugby league great
Popular Aussie TV presenter responds to dilated pupil concerns
