Guide To

Performance Eyewear

November 16 2007

produced in association with

OT Supplement COVER_FINAL.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:55 Page 1

Where professionals lead,amateurs follow and highstreet opticians canbenefit from a huge

business opportunity in recreationalsports and second tier professionals.

Sport vision presents a wonderfulopportunity for dispensers andoptometrists to work hand in handwith the industry to supply modernsport vision appliances and contactlens materials and solutions.

SPORTFAIR 08Sportvision will celebrate the 2008Beijing Olympics on April 27-28 atManchester United’s Old Traffordground. There will be a Gala dinner,guided tour and a celebrity guest toopen the conference. An internationalline up of speakers will present newsport vision research, and the latestframes, lenses and equipment will beon show. The conference will featurea virtual sport vision practice whichwill show clinical advances in theunderstanding of visual performance.Register at www.sportvision.co.uk

SPORTVISION UKAt its last AGM, Sportvision UKannounced that it was to become anot for profit company and was toform a board of directors chaired byGavin Rebello. At the meeting in May,Mr Rebello welcomed the boardsupport from r+h, Adidas, Nat West

Bank and Johnson and Johnson VisionCare. Membership of Sportvision UK,the public face of The Association ofSportvision Practitioners, will exceed60 by the end of 2007. To qualify,members have to complete aSportvision CET course and then takean exam for the Diploma inSportvision practice. Perhaps themost important part of the exam dayis the presentation of individualresearch, which has already producedsome interesting new findings. Over140 delegates nationally and fromabroad have now attended the three-day course.

SPORTVISION UK GOESINTERNATIONAL Following a long period ofdevelopment we are delighted thatthe Sportvision Diploma is nowavailable by correspondence tooverseas delegates. Thecorrespondence course recognises thedifficulty for these delegates, andrequires only a single day ofattendance.

Ajay Bhootra recently completedthe Diploma in Sportvision practiceby correspondence. Mr Bhootra is onthe Board of Himalaya Vision Care,currently the biggest optical chain inWestern India. After a year of closecollaboration with Himalaya,Sportvision will be introducing theDiploma to India and the rest of Asia.

THE BRITISH JOURNAL OFSPORTVISIONThe next development of Sportvisionin the UK and abroad will see thelaunch of the official journal of theAssociation of SportvisionPractioners. A wealth of new data hasalready been produced bySportvision Diploma delegates as partof their course work and this will bepremiered in the journal.

MARK SELBYSportvision was amazed by thesuccess of Mark Selby (main picture)at the snooker worldchampionships. Starting as anoutsider, Mark was runner-up in aclosely fought final at the Cruciblethis year. Wearing the Sportvisionlogo proudly on his lapel, Markupset the odds with a brilliantdisplay. Following theChampionship, he hosted aSportvision screening at hisLeicester club where members of theAssociation of Sportvisionpractitioners carried out visualassessments on local players. Aninitial finding was that the sport canfavour players with some level ofvisual deficiency or even crossdominance. It appears the ability todeal with deficiency, and lots ofpractice, are the key elements thatenable players to make the mostimpossible shots look effortless.

London 2012 -Be preparedBy Geraint Griffiths

SPORTVISION COMMENT

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

2

Sport is now the British public’s favourite pastime with some 20 millionpeople taking part in activities every week. The England rugby team,Manchester United and Tiger Woods all use vision specialists. GeraintGriffiths, managing director of Sportvision gives us a progress update.

OT Sport Supplement _p2.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:58 Page 2

PERFORMANCE EYEWEARsupplementISSN 0268-5485

ABC CERTIFICATE OF CIRCULATIONJuly 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007Average Net: 18.186 UK: 17,324 Other countries: 780

Editor: David ChallinorT: 020 7202 8164 E: davidchallinor@optometry.co.uk

Editorial Office:Optometry Today, 61 Southwark Street,London SE1 0HL

Head of Sponsorship: Sunil SinghT: 020 7878 2327F: 020 7379 7118E: sunil.singh@tenalpspublishing.com

Supplement Edited by: Ryan Bradshaw

Production: Ten Alps Publishing plcT: 020 7878 2361E: louise.greenall@tenalpspublishing.com

Design: Ten Alps Publishing plcT: 020 7878 2333

Advertising and Production Office:Ten Alps Publishing plc, 9 Savoy Street,London WC2E 7HR

E: info@optometry.co.ukW: www.optometry.co.uk

© OPTOMETRY TODAY

Ten Alps Publishing Subscriber ServicesThe Coach HouseTurners Drive, ThatchamBerks, RG19 4QBT: 01635 879381, Fax: 01635 879397E: tenalps@circdata.com

A visionto succeed

inside your performance eyewear supplement...

... be part of something specialTo be a part of the next OT performance eyeweare, telephone Sunil Singh on 020 7878 2327 or emailSunil.Singh@tenalpspublishing.com

2 SportvisionMaintaining the vision to 2012

4-5 NewsKelly’s Olympic bid begins

7 HilcoThe Human Eye

8-9 GatorzFull throttle frames

12 Johnson & Johnson The importance of the eye examination

15 Rudy Project20 years of success in sports

There is a growing demand forperformance eyewear in sport. Studies by

Aston University, Johnson & Johnson, Oakleyand Adidas have revealed that in varyingsporting conditions, sports eyewear isbeneficial.

From the obvious requirement to guardeyes with 100% UV protection sunglasses outon the cricket field, to the need to educatecontact lens wearers about such organisms asAcanthamoeba keratitis in the swimmingpool, dispensers and optometrists should beable to use this valuable research to supplythe best performance eyewear for customerswho enjoy all sports.

Geraint Griffiths, managing director ofSportvision, has extolled the values of sportvision training, which has helped theperformances of sportspeople such assnooker player Mark Selby.

Last month, J&J showcased its

AchieveVision sports vision programme inPrague, where British heptathlete, KellySotherton began a series of training exercisesto improve eye concentration and reactionspeed.

Elsewhere in this supplement, Hilcocarefully examines the properties of the eyeand its difficult relationship with the sun.Gatorz eyewear shows that it is all fired upand ready for the UK extreme sports market,and, Rudy Project reveals its pulling power,with the news that over 10,000 athletes arenow wearing its frames.

I hope readers will find this performanceeyewear supplement both an interesting read,and helpful in boosting both the knowledgeand business potential of this growing sector.

Ryan BradshawAssistant Editor OT

www.optometry.co.ukClinical article archives, latest newsinformation and latest classifieds

advertisements can all be found onwww.optometry.co.uk

2

8 4

15

OT Sport Supplement_p3.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:54 Page 3

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

4

NEWS

Astudy by sunglasses company,Oakley has revealed that the nation’s

eyesight is suffering as a result ofconsumer confusion over sunglassprotection.

The Eye-Q study, backed by Englandcricket star, Kevin Pietersen (pictured),found that one in five people sufferfrom eye strain, dizziness or blurredvision as a result of wearing poorquality sunglasses, and more than athird don’t know which UV light theirsunglasses should be blocking out.One in three 18-24 year olds report eyeailments after prolonged sunglassusage.

Whilst the dangers of sitting out inthe sun without sunscreen are wellpublicised the same clearly cannot besaid of our eyes. Oakley is remindingsunglass wearers that not all lenses arethe same, and those that loosely claim

to “block UV” cannot be relied on. Over a third of people questioned in

the survey did not know if theirsunglasses provided any UV protectionand nearly half the populationbelieved that the darker the lens thebetter the protection. In reality, colourbrand and price are no guarantee ofsufficient UV protection. One-in-tenmen said they never wear them inbright sunshine.

Around 88% of the Britishpopulation own at least one pair ofsunglasses and 18 million of them buynew ones every year, yet two thirdsdon’t ask for advice when purchasingthem.

England Cricketer Kevin Pietersensaid: “I appreciate the importance ofprotecting my eyes, having played inbright and sunny conditions all overthe world. My sunglasses are much

more than a fashion accessory as theyprotect me from UV rays and sharpenmy vision. Oakley’s Eye-Q campaign isan important reminder for people toprotect their eyes as well as their skin,whether the sun shines or not”.

Sunglass wearers put eye health at risk

Keeping your eyeon the ball

Champions League winningfootball star, Kaka,

underwent eye surgery this yearto treat long-term myopia andastigmatism.

The 25-year-old Brazilian,who plays for Italian club, ACMilan, had the laser eyetreatment in Modena, Italy byspecialist Angelo Appiotti inJune.

The World Cup winning star,who used to wear contactlenses on the football pitch,said that he was ‘surprised andmotivated’ after he opened hiseyes and realised his visionhad improved.

Former Blackburn Roversand Celtic striker, Chris Sutton,34, was forced to retire fromthe game this season afterpersistent blurred vision.

Release the Animal in your sports range

Inspecs will be launching its Animal range of extreme sports eyewear inJanuary 2008.For the first time, Animal’s complete collection of ophthalmic, sun and

snow frames will be produced solely by Inspecs.This partnership has come just in time to celebrate Animal’s 20th

anniversary, with Inspecs celebrating their own 20th next year.Animal’s grass roots are in ‘Free Ride’ sports such as surfing,

snowboarding, windsurfing and mountain biking, which are becomingpopular pastimes with young people across the globe. The company hasan established name within the ‘Free Ride’ sports industry and itsproducts and heritage are well respected.

To keep in tradition with the true Animal spirit, the optical categorypromises to be a mixture of strong coloured metal and funky acetateframes with graffiti style branding. Each piece incorporates a strong brandidentity, with moulded badges, oversized laser engraves and pop colouredlogo details. The range is unisex aiming for the 16+ market.

With all elements of the collection bordering on fashion and sport, thesunglasses category highlights features such as strong temple brandingand oversized wraparound frames with polarised lenses, all of which areclassified category 3 with 100% UVA and UVB protection.

OT Sport Supplement _p4-5.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:52 Page 8

NEWS

5

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

British Olympic heptathlete, KellySotherton travelled to J&J’s Vision

Care Institute in Prague last month toundergo an extensive visionassessment in preparation for nextyear’s Beijing games.

The 31-year-old CommonwealthGold medallist underwent a thoroughocular examination with Bristoloptometrist, Amar Shah, before shecarried out a series of sport visiontests and exercises as a part of herAchieveVision programme.

Mr Shah said: “Research showsthat around 50% of Olympic athleteshaven’t had an eye test, and withsuch an emphasis on sports medicineand nutrition, checking the health ofthe eye is such a simple thing to do.”

Mr Shah found that the athlete hadvery good vision. After assessing hereyes with a cover test and a Brockstring test he discovered that she hada small weakness focussing on a‘point of fixation’, and that she wasright-eye dominant.

Mr Shah said of the assessment:“Kelly’s focussing is really good, butwhat isn’t working quite as well isthe way in which her eyes worktogether. If we can improve this wemay be able to improve her ability tofocus on a particular point in spaceand maintain that.”

As a result of this diagnosis, MrShah focussed on each of MsSotherton’s seven events, andexplained that she could use theAchieveVision programme to improveher visual concentration.

By using sport vision technologysuch as the hand eye coordination

trainer (pictured), Ms Sotherton couldimprove reaction speeds. She couldalso benefit from a series of computer-based exercises.

Mr Shah said: “Kelly mentionedduring the initial examination that shehas problems with maintaining focusin events like the javelin and shot. Ifwe improve her ability to see exactlywhere an object is in space she shouldbe able to clear it more accurately inevents like the high jump.”

Ms Sotherton was pleased with theoutcome of the assessment, and saidthat she believes the programme willhave a positive effect on herperformances.

She said: “I have always thoughtthat I was weak at concentrating onone point, so it is good to know that I

will now be able to train my eyes toconcentrate for longer.

“I am hoping that the visiontraining can give me the edge overmy competitors. I think in eventssuch as the hurdles it will enable meto sight the hurdle earlier andimprove my time by 1/100 of asecond, which could give me 40 extrapoints and perhaps a medal.”

Kelly’s Olympic vision boosted in Prague

Silmo success for Adidas

Adidas eyewear has been awarded the Silmo d’Or2007 for its multi-sport model, agilis (pictured

below). The prestigious Silmo d’Or awards, held annually in

Paris, at the world leading Silmo trade fair, is now inits 14th year. Hundreds of leading brands take parthoping to gain recognition for their product meritswithin the various categories.

The jury, made up of prominent optical tradepersonalities, assessed each entry against stringent criteriafor creative design, innovative features and productbenefits. The award for the Sports Eyewear categorywent to Adidas eyewear’s new multi-sport agilis.

Launched onto the market this autumn, the agilis isthe latest model in the multi-sport eyewear categoryfrom Adidas eyewear. It includes the Adidasbenchmark functional eyewear features such as

TRI.FIT and double-snap nose bridge for individualframe adjustments, quick release hinge and quickchange lens system. It also features the latest highlightfrom Adidas eyewear research lab, the LST Blue lightfilter technology, which protects the eyes againstharmful blue light radiation.

“This is now our third Silmo 'sport eyewear' awardover the years and we are again very pleased with theresult,” said Franz Koll, managing director. “Winningthe Silmo d’Or Award confirms our belief in theproduct and makes all the hard work worth it.”

OT Sport Supplement _p4-5.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:53 Page 9

OT AD Template 9/11/07 16:49 Page 1

7

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

Eyesight is extremely importantfor sports, especially when itcomes to skiing andsnowboarding. In the dazzling

light of the high mountains, where thesun’s rays are multiplied by reflectionsand fresh snow, in thick snowdriftsand incident fog, visual perception isseriously limited. The complexmovements are continuouslycoordinated, controlled and correctedby means of ‘visual inspection’.

Compared to the rest of the body, thehigh energy consumption of the eyefrequently results in faster fatigue.Moreover, the eye has to adapt notonly to the very strong light of thewave spectrum visible to humans –rather, light stimuli on both sides ofthe spectrum visible to humans flowonto the eye – especially short-wavecomponents in the range between 400and 780 nanometres (nm).

The short-wave, high-energy‘fraction’ extends to about 300nm. ThisUV light is responsible for tanning theskin and, consequently, also forsunburn, with “C” being the shortest-wave component. Infrared radiation(thermal radiation) is in the rangebetween 780 and 1,800nm.

At higher altitudes, the filterfunction is reduced. Protection is alsodiminished since the ozone layer isthinner the higher you go. Ultravioletlight (UV) damages the cornea withthose sensory receptors, which belongto the central nervous system. Infraredlight is particularly harmful to thecornea and the back of the eye.

It is not without reason thatsunglasses are required to conform toEN 1836:1997, personal eye protection– sunglasses, sunglare filters for

general use and filters for directobservation of the sun. This standardspecifies physical properties forsunglasses and sunglare filters ofnominal plano power which are notprescription lenses, intended forprotection against solar radiation forgeneral use, for social and domesticpurposes including road use anddriving.

SUNLIGHTIt forms a range of electromagnetic rayswhich start with the ultraviolet (UV),and ends with infrared rays (IR).Visible light (VIS) lies between thesetwo. The wavelengths of the rays aremeasured in nanometres (nm), ie, one-millionth of a metre. Since everyperson sees the visible range from adifferent wavelength, there are noclearly defined limits between visibleand invisible light:200-400nm: UV rays400-780nm: visible lightabove 780nm: infrared rays

LIGHT INTENSITYIn enclosed spaces light intensity isaround 1,000 times less than in openspaces. The light is at its mostintense between 10am and 3pm.Water and light reflect incident light,thereby significantly intensifyingtheir effect. Dazzling sunlight can beup to 100 times stronger in themountains than in the valley.

EFFECTS All rays affect the tissue of the eye.Sunglasses with lenses that do not letcertain rays through, or only partiallylet them through, which weaken thevisible light, protect the eye from

damage and overstrain. Visible light,depending on the colour of thelenses, is reduced (non-glare).

UV RAYSThe shorter the wavelength of UVrays, the more dangerous the effecton the eye (inflammation of thecornea, extensive damage to the eye,cataracts). However, UV-A rays fromthe reflecting sea and in themountains above 2,000 meters arealso very dangerous. UV filters in thelenses offer protection:315-400nm: longer UV-A rays200-315nm: shorter UV-B and C rays

IR RAYS The omnipresent thermal IR raysstart at above 800nm. Their intensityincreases the higher the altitude.Silvering lenses and IR filters offerprotection from infrared rays.

GOOD SUNGLASSES They have, above all, an even lensthickness and density and a highsurface quality, no smears, bubbles orinclusions. Lenses thinner than 1mmhave distorted edges, and bend in theheat. Poor lenses are thereforefrequently the real cause of fatigue,headaches and stinging in the eyes.

The Human EyeThe eye is our most essential sensoryorgan says Hilco. Around 90% of oursensory perception is via the eye – amere 25mm in size and only 7g in weight.

COMMERCIAL FEATURE ON HILCO

OT Sport Supplement _p7.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:51 Page 7

COMMERCIAL FEATURE ON GATORZ

Gatorz Precision Built Eyewear is inspired by apassion and drive to pursue radical ideas, creativecustomised designs, and premium materials. Theconcept was born in the USA from the same genre

and workshop mentality that set off the revival of Americancustom motorbikes, hot rods and racing. This freedom toinnovate and focus on eyewear is one reason whyGatorz Eyewear has become the firstchoice for a number ofextreme sports fanaticsacross the world.

Gatorz eyewear is machinedfrom the strongest, yet lightestaluminium in the world, 7075, T6hardened aircraft billet aluminium. This material is extremelystrong whether its application is used on F-18 fighter jets,custom-built choppers or Gatorz Precision Built Eyewear.

Frame models include the Magnum, with its oversize twostep temple design and square shaped lens protection. TheWraptor design is a favourite with US NASCAR drivers andEuropean pro-cyclists with its triangular-shaped frame. TheEdge model is designed to be light and fashionable, and is

ideal for women and smaller faces. The aluminium frames inthese series can also be customised with individual designed

artwork.Gatorz Precision Built Eyewear featuresTruRay Optics, the most comprehensiveassortment of impact proof, 100%blocking UVA, UVB, and UVC (and insome cases into the blue lightspectrum) lens filters and coatingsoffered by any single sunglass company.In addition to safeguarding your eyes

this optical system offers the wearer theability to fully customise their Gatorz

sunglasses for optimal performance, visual comfort andsafety. All TruRay Optics are decentred with the preciseamount of induced prism resulting in pristine optics, free ofspherical and astigmatic error, in addition to prismatic andperipheral aberrations. With such a high quality surface andperfect binocular balance, TruRay Optics are categorised asClass 1 Optical Quality, recognised internationally as thehighest grade available.

Included in the TruRay optics series are five optical

The frames of choice for Formula 1,NASCAR and hot rod racers worldwide

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

8

ALL FIRED UP

OT Sport Supplement _p8-9.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:50 Page 1

9

systems. The polarised includesproprietary filter technology to allow onlythe uninterrupted light spectrum reachyour eyes. Ideal for differentiating boldercolours in snow, water or land, the series isavailable in dark brown and dark smoke.The photochromic series adjusts with thesun, in or out, in either indoor or outdoorconditions and includes Variable-litePhotochromics to relieve fatigue on the eyes.

The Defender series cuts at least 90% of harmful blue lightwhile absorbing red and infrared rays. Designed to improvehand to eye coordination and reaction time, it is available inthree lens types. The Action series represents a family of lensfilters that allows the wearer to choose the optimum lenscolour and density for specific sport and sunlight conditions.Gatorz original Image lens frames continue to be popular witha choice of colours, dielectric mirror and gradient flashcoatings.

NASCAR racing stars Kurt Busch (pictured) and ChrisBingham both wear the Gatorz frames, as does formerFormula 1 racer Michael Andretti and his Indycar racing son,

Marco Andretti (pictured).The current World Champion

skydiving team, Team Elan, wearGatorz. As does Finnish superbikechampion, Tatu Lauslehto whorecently wore the Starlite model whenhe was competing at the Supersport600 World Championship.

British extreme sports stars are alsobecoming Gatorz fans, with MartinJessop, British Super Bike competitor,Josh Brown, World Power BoatChampion, and Steve Deeks, ex-racingdriver and Sky One presenter, allwearing the frames.

Looks Direct is the sole distributor of Gatorz eyewear for theUK and launched Gatorz at the Autosport International showin January 2007. Gatorz received an overwhelming responseat the show, and since then there has been a high demand forthe range. Gatorz will be marketed mainly throughsponsorship of individuals and sporting events.

With over 12 models, 11 frame colours and 32 lens options,Gatorz’s frames are completely customisable as there are over4,000 different combinations. From Sky presenters to Skydivers Gatorz precision-built eyewear is revolutionising theworld of sunglass eyewear.

For more information call 0845 2573535 or go towww.gatorzsunglasses.co.uk. 1

6/

11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

ONLY GATORZ EYEWEAR FEATURES

Z Made in the USA

Z T6 7075 Billet, aircraft grade aluminium

Z Precision built using CNC, CAD,Cam technologies

Z Dual sided 5 Barrel hinges

Z Compression fit laser cut lenses

Z TruRay Optics

Z Incredibly strong and light weight

OT Sport Supplement _p8-9.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:50 Page 2

16/1

1/07

PE

RFO

RM

AN

CE E

YEW

EAR

10

RESEARCH NEWS

When an American girl, JackieStillmaker, 17, went swimming

three years ago wearing her contact lenses,she never thought her eyes could bepermanently damaged. Like many others,she didn’t know she was at risk of ablinding eye infection, Acanthamoebakeratitis, a condition where amicroscopic, water-borne parasitebecame trapped beneath her contactlens. The parasite infected her corneafor two years. Jackie endured threecorneal transplants to eradicate thisparasite from her eye.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare butvery painful and potentially blindinginfection of the cornea. The infectionoccurs almost exclusively in contactlens wearers. The primary risk factorsfor this condition are: swimming inpools, lakes or sea water while wearingcontact lenses, storing contact lenses in

home made solutions, and poor contactlens hygiene.

The use of contact lenses while incontact with water sources that may becontaminated – such as swimming infresh, salt or chlorinated water, watersports, showering and use of hot tubs –is also a risk factor for Acanthamoeba

keratitis. The infecting organisms canreach the eye directly from the watersource, or indirectly by introduction ofAcanthamoeba into the storage casewhen a lens contaminated by the watersource is not cleaned properly. A studyof 138 people who had positiveAcanthamoeba corneal cultures, 38%reported swimming whilst wearingcontact lenses.

A simple solution to reduce the riskof Acanthamoeba keratitis would bethe removal of contact lenses beforeundertaking watersports. Given that theuse of spectacles would also be un-appropriate, then prescriptionswimming goggles or diving masks arean inexpensive option to the patient.Modern goggles retail at approximately£30.00, and include sphereprescriptions from +8.00 to –8.00, andinclude options for children.

In at the deep end: swimming hazards

Keep AMD at bay

New research has proven that accumulative exposure toblue spectrum light, which sits directly under UV on

the electromagnetic spectrum, can result in permanentphotochemical damage to the retina. Damage that occurs asa result of it is irreversible.

More specifically, accumulative exposure to bluespectrum light has been proven to be a directcontributing factor to Age Related MacularDegeneration.

Every week 300 people in the UK lose their sightbecause of AMD, and altogether an estimated 500,000people in the UK have the condition, withapproximately 8 in 100 people over 75 having somedegree of blindness as a result. Age, smoking, poor dietand UV light are also contributing factors, although bluespectrum light has now been established as the centralcause.

Adidas eyewear’s LST bluefilter lens, providesprotection as it absorbs 95.5% of harmful blue light. Itcombines the best of the proven LST characteristics(being harmonisation of light fluctuation and contrastenhancement as well as full colour perception) with theadded benefit of blue light protection – it still letsthrough a specific but non-harmful amount of blue lightin order to avoid distortion of colour perception.

Contact lens benefits in sport

Astudy by AstonUniversity has revealed

that 96% of contact lenswearers wear lenses duringsports.

A questionnaire wasdistributed to 225 firstyear undergraduateoptometry students withresults showing that 59%wear a vision correction,and 35% wear contactlenses.

The study found that itis generally notrecommended to wearrigid gas permeable lensesfor contact sports, and it is better to wear lenses withhigh oxygen transmissibility, such as silicone hydrogelsfor altitudinal sports such as skiing.

Thirty one per cent of wearers use daily disposablelenses, while 77% wear monthly soft replacementcontact lenses in sporting activities.

Common problems encountered by contact lenswearers during sports include dry eye, with 39%people reporting symptoms. However, 35% of allsubjects said they had no adverse symptoms at all.

With the risks associated with wearing lenses whileswimming, such as bacterial and amoebic keratitis,23% of subjects said they still swim while wearingcontact lenses.

Although football is the most common sportreported to cause ocular injury, it is the most popularsport played by respondents, with a third enjoying thegame.

The full peer reviewed article appeared in OT onOctober 5 2007.

OT Sport Supplement _p10-11.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:56 Page 8

RESEARCH NEWS

11

16/1

1/07

PE

RFO

RM

AN

CE E

YEW

EAR

Research by Sportvision hasshown that there are two

primary visual skills, aiming andanticipation (based of depthperception) and six diagnosticelements of visual performance:refractive error, vision, eyedominance, muscle balance, fixationdisparity and colour preference.

This finding has resulted in theformulation of the laws ofSportvision, which among otherthings, suggests that the visualdemands in the occupation of sportapply to all other occupations aswell.

To test this hypothesis in theoccupation of reading, a study wascarried out with 95 year seven pupilsat Moreton School in Wolverhamptonto see if the visual problems, whichcause athletic deficiency, could have

the same effect on the ability to read,(the primary visual skill in reading islikely to be aiming and centre aroundthe importance of eye dominance).

The results so far have beenpromising, showing correlationsbetween visual deficiency at the nearpoint and reading speed, betweenreading speed and key stage 2results, between visual deficiencyand light sensitivity. A directrelationship between a sporting skill,like ball catching, and educationalability was also shown. Overall 60%of the children had signs to dyslexiapredicted by the laws of Sportvision.

A group of 14 at risk children werefollowed up with a full eyeexamination and prescription ofspectacles. During the initial periodof spectacle wear an improvement of30% in school performance was

measured based on the teachers’assessment of the students’ progressin terms of behaviour, attention,progress and social inter-action. Sixchildren had one line or moreimprovement in visual acuity over athree-month period and, on average,reading speed more than doubled.

Sport helping pupils to achieve vision

Assessing the impact ofcontact lens wear on sport

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has conductedresearch to investigate the relationship between sport

and contact lenses. Results showed a significantawareness of the importance of contact lenses whileplaying sport.

The study examined 200 participants aged 16-34years who wear contact lenses while playing sport.Results revealed that the majority of the peopleinterviewed practice sport with medium frequency(36% 1-2 days per week and 52% 3-4 days per week)and around 75% of the sample has been practisingsport from when they were less than 14 years old.Visiting the gym, swimming and football were the mostpractised.

The results also showed an overwhelming awarenessof the importance of contact lenses while playing sportwith 67% of participants feeling that contact lenses aremore comfortable and 62% stating that they providemore freedom than glasses.

In addition, 72% of participants noted that wearingcontact lenses made them feel more comfortable intheir own sporting ability.

With the added benefit of being able to keep a freshnew pair of lenses in your gym bag, almost half ofparticipants (43%) stated that they would choose adaily disposable lens to play sport.

It is important not to forget the damaging effects UVrays can have on the eyes in outdoor sport. Experts saythe effects of UV radiation are cumulative and can doirreversible harm.

Conditions such as age-related cataract, may notmanifest for years and it is too late to reverse theeffects of the sun. Class 1 UV-blockers must absorb aminimum of 90 percent UVA and at least 99 percentUVB radiation.

OT Sport Supplement _p10-11.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:57 Page 9

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

12

COMMERCIAL FEATURE ON JOHNSON&JOHNSON

SPORT POPULARITY INCREASESThe popularity of sport and therange of activities available havegrown considerably over the lastfew years. Whether this is due tothe excitement surrounding theOlympic Games, the FIFA WorldCup, or the government’s campaignto get more people exercising, themessage has been clearly received.Sport is both fun and beneficial.Furthermore, research has shownthat health is the number oneconcern for adults1 with morepeople than ever joining a gym anda record 35 million people recordedas being active2.

TRAINING AND FINE-TUNING IS KEYWhether you are a weekendamateur or an Olympic athlete, youwill know that training is key, andfine-tuning your body and muscleswill increase your overallperformance. In this respect, the eyesare no different. There is increasingevidence showing that visual skillshave a significant impact on physicalperformance - each eye has sevenworking muscles that can be trained,tuned and strengthened to enablethem to perform efficiently andeffectively together.

Millions of sporting enthusiastsare among the 17.5 million peoplein the UK who seek an eyeexamination every year. However,research shows that although 55%of adults in the UK need an eye

examination, only 12% go for aregular examination. Furthermore,20% of all 15-34 year olds havenever had an eye examination3. It begs the question: how manysporting enthusiasts realise thatsports eye care and eyewear exist,or that informed advice – plusappropriate vision correction –could add to their comfort, sportingperformance, or even their eyehealth and safety? Sportsenthusiasts and eye careprofessionals alike could benefitfrom a better understanding of thevisual aspects of sport – a growingand fascinating subject that has the

potential to generatereal excitement andpotential revenue in

optical practices.

PERFORMANCE, VISION & SPORTFOR EYE CARE PROFESSIONALSEye care professionals can learnmore about performance, vision andsport by applying for Johnson &Johnson Vision Care’s distancelearning package* (a tri-moduleseries) which introduces theconcept of enhancing visualperformance in sport and gives eyecare professionals the opportunityto further understand how visiontraining in sports can beincorporated into everyday clinicalpractice.

The module also offers guidanceon the questions to ask sports

players, how results should beinterpreted and how trainingprogrammes should be prescribed.

Module one introduces theconcept of vision and performancein sport, and details evidence thatvisual performance can beenhanced in sport, leading toimprovements in the sport itself.Furthermore, this introductorymodule answers initial questionssuch as: what is the need and the

current level of participation insport in the UK? Why should eyecare professionals get involved?What sources of information areavailable, and is additionalequipment needed in order to getinvolved? Modules two and threecontain more in-depth discussionrelating to diagnosis, visioncorrection and performance visiontraining techniques. In addition, theseries includes a set of casehistories illustrating how visualperformance deficits have led toactual performance weakness andhow the enhanced vision trainingprogramme improves sportingperformance.

No system of visual trainingshould be undertaken before theparticipant has had a detailed andcomprehensive ocular assessment.

Vision and Sport

“An athlete with good visual memory alwaysseems to be in the right place at the right timeand of course nothing happens in sport until the

eye tells the body what to do. Visioncoaching is just as important as everyother aspect of coaching to achieve eliteperformance.” Sir Clive Woodward

The importance of the eye examination

OT Sport Supplement _p12-13.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:48 Page 12

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

EY

EW

EA

R

13

A great deal of work has beenundertaken to support visualoptimisation, not only by eye careprofessionals but also bykinesiologists and assorteddoctorial research. It is clear that awell-trained and conditioned visualsystem can help a well-tuned motorsystem perform at its peak.

RAISING THE AWARENESS OFEYE EXAMINATIONS FOR SPORTSIt is for this reason that Johnson &Johnson Vision Care is working inpartnership with the College ofOptometrists to support theimportance of regular eyeexaminations and to encourageeveryone to ‘Be The Best They CanBe’. This mission comes as Johnson& Johnson became the OfficialVision Care Product Partner of theBeijing 2008 Olympic Games andwhose aim is to help athletesachieve their best.

Working with Sir CliveWoodward OBE, Director of ElitePerformance for the BritishOlympic Association, Johnson &Johnson will aim to ensure that

British athletes benefit fromJohnson & Johnson’s Elite AthleteVision Care Programme.

PREPARING OUROLYMPIC HOPEFULSIn its commitment to providingmore in the interest of performancein sport, Johnson & Johnson hasalready helped two Olympichopefuls prepare for the upcomingOlympic Games in Beijing.Badminton mixed doubles partnersGail Emms and Nathan Robertsonrecently completed the EliteAthlete Vision Care programme atthe prestigious Vision Care Institutein Prague where they undertook anassessment with internationallyrenowned optometrist MichelGuillon, prior to embarking on theiryear long AchieveVisionprogramme. The visual assessmentsupplements a traditional eye examand evaluates not only visualacuity, but also identifies anyopportunity to improve visual

quality and efficiency by testing theeye muscles responsible formovement and focus. Thecustomised tests that are usedmeasure key aspects ofperformance-related visual skillsincluding: depth perception,peripheral vision, visual tracking,contrast sensitivity, muscle balance,alignment skills and reaction time.

Identifying a weakness orproblem with vision and correctingit can only be done through anexam from an eye care professional.Even if the patient is not an eliteathlete, it is important for them tohave their eyes and vision assessedregularly to ensure they are healthyand strong, so that they canperform at their best. Encouragingpeople to identify necessary visualcorrection can also play a key partin overall performance. In a recentstudy, more than 7 in 10 peoplewearing contact lenses for sportagreed that contact lenses enabledparticipation in more physicalcontact sports and almost threequarters agreed that the absence ofcontact lenses would restrict their

sporting activity. Also, over 40% ofthose wearing contact lenses forsport agreed that the product hadimproved their performance, withagreement rising to over 50% forAcuvue wearers.

EDUCATION IS ESSENTIALTo further demonstrate Johnson &Johnson Vision Care’s commitmentto continued education and eyehealth it is celebrating the recentlaunch of its latest state-of-the-artvisual skills and training centre,The Vision Care Institute in theChinese National Sports TrainingCentre in Beijing. “The opening ofthe Vision Care Institute in Beijingfurther demonstrates Johnson &Johnson’s global commitment to eyecare professionals - and to theOlympic Games,” said Ian Davies,

Vice President of The Vision CareInstitute in Europe, Middle Eastand Africa. “It is our aim to offerthe best services to contact lenswearers by facilitating specialisttraining in this unique learningenvironment”, continued MrDavies. “The upcoming BeijingOlympic Games provide anexcellent opportunity to raiseawareness for the importance ofvision care and eye health in Chinaand around the world, not only forelite athletes but also for all of uswho value our vision and arelooking to do our best.” The VisionCare Institute in Beijing is awelcome addition to the manyother institutes across the globe andcomes shortly after the launch ofThe Vision Care Institute in Milanearlier this year. Hot on the heels ofthese two launches andcontinuously following suit, aVision Care Institute is planned forlaunch in the UK next year,opening up a whole host ofeducational benefits to UK-basedeye care professionals and ourneighbouring countries.

The Vision Care InstituteTM is atrademark of Johnson & JohnsonVision Care. © JJVC 2007. A divisionof Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd.

* The distance learning packages are

currently being sent out to Eye Care

Professionals that attended the ‘Be The

Best You Can Be’ road shows throughout

March and May 2007. Eye Care

Professionals that did not attend the road

shows can fill in a CET Distance Learning

order form to receive the modules. For

further information about these modules

and to receive an order form, please

contact your ACUVUE® Account Manager.

1. Mintel 2007

2. HMSO 2004

3. Reed/College of Optometrists 2007

Badminton mixed doubles partnersGail Emms and Nathan Robertson

OT Sport Supplement _p12-13.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:48 Page 13

OT AD Template 9/11/07 16:50 Page 1

15

16

/11/

07

P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

E

YE

WE

AR

Rudy Project was founded inTreviso, Italy in 1985,immediately gaining aprominent position and

establishing itself as one of theleading companies in Europe in thesporting and optical sector

The basis for this success lies in itsdistribution network, its investmentin communication strategies, and itsmission to concentrate on excellentproduct quality. It is on a constantsearch for new materials andtechnologies to apply to lenses andframes.

Conceived initially for athletes,Rudy Project glasses rapidly becamewidespread amongst a widerclientele, thanks to the combinationof aesthetic features and theexceptional visual comfort andprotection that they offer.

Globally, more than 10,000 athletesin a variety of disciplines are backedby Rudy Project; these includecyclists, as well as golfers, sailers,skaters, snowboarders, triathletes andcross-country skiers. German 24-year-old Linus Gerdemann, won the firstAlpine stage at this year’s Tour deFrance wearing Rudy Project’s ultra-light wraparound Rydon II glasses. Inaddition, Australian rower AmberHalliday (pictured) won her thirdlight double scull worldchampionship this year wearingRudy Project frames.

Founded by Rudy Barbazza andtoday, managed by his sons Cristianowho is the managing director, andSimone, who is in charge ofmarketing and communications, thecompany is one of the last eyewearbrands to remain totallyindependent, faithful to its originalmission: that of creating technicalglasses with attention to the smallestof details and subjected to the mostmeticulous quality control, whichsucceed in fulfilling the requirementsof the most demanding users.

RUDY IMPACTX LENSTECHNOLOGYSince the development of CR-39 andPolycarbonate over 40 years ago,there have been few advances andinnovations in high impact-resistantoptical polymer development. NXT isa family of patented polyurethaneoptical polymers, transparent andunbreakable, originally developed for

the US military to provide superiorprotection and performance. Thismaterial is also used in the windowsin post-September 11 cockpit doorsbeing installed on airplanes andApache helicopter windshieldspanels; it is today available for RudyProject Technically Cool Eyewearunder a unique and unparalleled lensprogram: ‘ImpactX’.

ImpactX represents today the mostadvanced technological solution inthe field of vision protection. Thanksto its transparency and superioroptical quality, lenses made in NXTensure sharp vision and unbeatablecomfort: they are made by casting, aprocess which ensures lower internalstress, higher optical homogeneityand mechanical stability compared totraditional polycarbonate lenses.

ImpactX lens technology offersbreakthrough NXT semi-rigidmolecular properties formulatedexclusively for Rudy Project. Afteryears of laboratory research andfield tests with professional athletes,ImpactX has been perfected withcutting edge light managementtechnology by combiningphotochromic particles andadvanced polarized technology inthe mass, incorporating superiorimpact resistance with enhancedvisual acuity, for virtually anyclimatic condition.

...AND FOR GOLF FANSEngineered by professional golfers,this revolutionary lens has beentailored to offer all the assets of ourprestigious Golf 100 optics, butperfected with ImpactX technologyand photochromic properties. Theyprovide unique climatic managementtechnology for dark conditions,when light transmission can dropfrom 78% to 20% in a few seconds.

360° FULLY ADJUSTABLE TEMPLETIPSThe temple tips can be adjusted in anydirection by applying gentle pressure.Rudy Project employs no-slip parts thatdo not fail in the heat of the moment. ERGONOSE (I & II)An advanced technology in nose piece,the Ergonose (I & II) contains a numberof enhancements including aeratedMegol nose pads that ensure maximumcomfort.

In rude health

WHY RUDY?1. NXT is stronger than any other lens

material, guaranteed not to crack.2. It has lower refractive index, internal

stress and chromatic dispersion thanpolycarbonate, resulting in sharper images.

3. NXT lenses feature a superior Quartzscratch-resistant antistatic coatings.

4. It is 20% lighter than CR-39 and 10%lighter than Polycarbonate.

5. Tailor-made NXT formula for superiorsafety and unparalleled protection.

6. Enhanced visual acuity for any climaticconditions.

Over twenty years of research,innovation and advanced science

OPTICAL RX INSERT & SPECIFICS For our more technical sunglasses thatcannot support a direct in frame RX, wehave created “clip-on” RX optical insertsthat can be snapped in behind thepolycarbonate lenses. Rudy Project alsooffers a wide range of sports glassesspecifically designed to have high indexprescriptions. Exception, Kabrio andPerception are advanced solutions forthose who seek versatile Rx platformswith solar protection.

COMMERCIAL FEATURE ON RUDY PROJECT

OT Sport Supplement _p15.qxd:News 12/11/07 11:47 Page 1

OT AD Template 9/11/07 16:51 Page 1