England has World Cup in its sights thanks to Leeds
Free spectacles are traditionally "prescribed" to referees accused of sporting howlers.
But in a role reversal they are being offered to members of the England Rugby League squad who are going Down Under.
The team will attempt to win the World Cup in Australia later this month and are being helped by optometrist Simon Falk.
Mr Falk, who has been based in Oakwood, north Leeds, for 10 years, wants to protect the players' eyes from the Aussie sunshine.
Imperative
So he is supplying them with the latest eyewear from leading international brand Oakley.
He is already optometrist to Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos and has worked with both England Men's and Women's cricket teams.
He said: "It is imperative for sportsmen to protect their eyes in any type of sunshine and I am very fortunate to help the England side in their campaign. The Oakley brand is synonymous with eyewear in world sport ."
England's head coach Tony Smith said: "We are delighted to enter this partnership with Simon Falk and have access to a high quality brand.
"We have considered every aspect of performance going into the tournament and eye protection in the Australian sunshine is going to be vitally important."
The team starts the tournament on Saturday, October 25, with a game against Papua New Guinea in the tropical Queensland city of Townsville.
They can expect temperatures to be in the upper 70s.
Eye diseases linked to sunlight include cataract, macular degeneration and cancer of the skin surrounding the eye.
The first two are the principal causes of vision loss.
Cataract
American tennis star Jennifer Capriati suffered from a cataract which she blamed on exposure to sunlight.
A person living to an average age is now more likely to have a cataract operation than any other surgical procedure.
Sunglasses lenses which absorb up to 100 per cent of ultra-violet light and 96 per cent of violet/blue are a safe protection against the light.
Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008
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