Optical Express Sports Vision Clinic Opens on the High Street

GLASGOW, Scotland, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday 20 January 2011 Optical Express opened their flagship Sports Vision clinic in Renfield Street, Glasgow City Centre giving everyone the chance to improve their sporting skills and increase awareness of sports specific eye care .

Olympic Gold Medalist 1980 and 1984 and 4-time world record holder, decathlete Daley Thompson CBE: "As an athlete I am very aware of the importance of looking after your eyes and having regular eye checks. Perfect vision is a key tool of our profession and I can't overemphasise the importance for all age groups to look after their eyes."

Sports Vision has been an important aspect in the training and development of top athletic and sporting professionals for a number of years and has been designed to maximise their performance, enhance their comfort and ensure their sporting activity is both safe and enjoyable.  

Separate to elite athletes, over 5.2 million UK adults have membership of a private gym and it is for them, sporting teams and clubs that Optical Express has opened the Sports Vision Clinic.

The Optical Express Sports Vision Clinic offers informed advice and appropriate eye care correction options based on an individual's requirements - the most comprehensive Sports Vision service currently available in the UK. The clinic, run by specially trained Sports Vision optometrists, will have a Sports Vision Trainer (SVT) and Bassin Anticipation Timer (BAT) machines that everyone can use to measure and improve their coordination and awareness.

Colin Moulson, a qualified Sports Vision optometrist at Optical Express, explained: "Many people don't realise there is a separate eye examination available that is specific to sports, nor that following a simple eye training programme can help improve their coordination and visual awareness. Sport is serious business these days, not only for seasoned professionals aiming to reach the top of their game, but for the growing population that are choosing to improve their health and well being through a more active lifestyle. Sport is a leading cause of eye injury, so it is essential to keep our eyes protected."

Frank Dick, British Athletics Team Coach through its Golden Years and now Chair of Scottish Athletics, continues to guide and influence athletes and coaches internationally at the elite end of sports. He comments: "Your first responsibility is for your personal performance excellence. That means being the best that you are capable of becoming: And not just once in a while, but persistently! Your second responsibility is for taking ownership of your preparation and development to make that performance happen. To achieve and maintain the competitive edge that this demands means taking nothing for granted when looking at every aspect of your health, fitness and general well being. Nothing can be overlooked and especially not something so fundamental as good eye health care. That kind of oversight can be costly, whatever your arenas in life. So I bring in the best expertise to deal with that. I mean, if you want to be the best, you must have the best people working to make you so. In my world, that means the very best! I am delighted, then, at this Optical Express initiative. The Sports Vision Clinic concept is absolutely on the button and ground breaking in designing and delivering a dedicated eye care service for the sport community. I believe it will give the competitive edge to those who want it enough. Sports enthusiasts at all levels need to understand the importance of regular eye checks to ensure their best possible performance."

Optical Express will offer a full range of Sports Vision services; assessment, correction, enhancement and protection. All sports eyewear meets exacting standards for fit and protection to maintain healthy eyes and provide piece of mind while competing or participating in sporting activity.

As well as a specialist Sports Vision Clinic, Optical Express has a broad optical retail offering and customers at the Glasgow City Centre clinic can also receive free laser eye surgery suitability consultations.

Scottish rugby star Graeme Morrison has been training with Optical Express and comments: "The key to my success on the field is the ability to react fast to win and retain possession of the ball. Rugby is about as physically demanding as it gets, and requires excellent conditioning, quick reactions, and strong hand/eye coordination to be able to break through opposition lines and pass the ball accurately. As an athlete it is important to stay on top of your game and Sports Vision training at Optical Express is an innovative way to maintain a competitive edge over your rival by focusing on one muscle that is ignored during traditional training methods."  

Retief Goosen is a two time Major golf champion and one of the best golfers of his generation: "I played for years with contact lenses and while they were sufficient, they weren't always ideal. If it was a windy day or a piece of dust got in the way, advantage would swing towards my opponent. As a sportsman, great vision is one of the best competitive advantages you can have. Laser eye surgery has given me back that edge where I can gauge the slope of the green and measure distance better than ever, a real boost to my game."

Note to Editors

Optical Express is one of the UK's leading eye care specialists, with over 200 locations nationwide staffed by professional opticians with access to all the latest technological developments. The fully trained opticians carry out thousands of comprehensive eye tests each week, providing patients with the ideal solution.

Optical Express is the world's leading refractive surgery provider with its surgeons having carried out more than 700,000 laser eye surgery procedures and performing more than 6 out of every 10 refractive procedures in the UK. The company employs over 3000 people, utilising over 50 ophthalmologists and 250 optometrists across more than 220 locations throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.

Prices for Sports Vision Clinic consultations and eye training programs are available on application. Please contact Optical Express, 28-36 Renfield Street, Glasgow on 0800 023 20 20.

Images featuring Scottish rugby star Graeme Morrison using the equipment are available.

http://www.opticalexpress.com

SOURCE Optical Express