HIGH PROFILE ATHLETES and teams are raising the profile of vision correction and acuity. Signing celebrity athletes can be an effective way for lens manufacturers to promote their brands. Maui Jim designed the Official Club Collection using PolarizedPlus2 lens technology for the players and coaches of the Manchester United soccer team. Oakley has a four-year partnership with the National Football League and in September launched a new campaign, “We Shape the Future.” Zenni Optical has become the official eyewear company of the Chicago Bulls, San Francisco 49ers and, most recently, the Boston Red Sox. Aside from a jersey patch, assets include a stadium retail shop, a variety of in-game signage and promotions, a joint community program — Framing the Future — social media promotion and hospitality.
Oakley
To celebrate Season Two of their partnership with the National Football League, Oakley has launched a new campaign, “We Shape the Future,” starring Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.
(800) 403-7449, oakley.com
Zenni Optical
Zenni has partnered with the Chicago Bulls, San Francisco 49ers and Boston Red Sox. Below: The Bulls’ Coby White.
(800) 211-2105, zennioptical.com
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CooperVision
Kim Boutin, a Canadian Olympic medalist speed skater, wears CooperVision’s Onefit scleral lenses.
(800) 341-2020, coopervision.com
Liberty Sport
Rodrigo Blankenship of the Indianapolis Colts is best known for his #RespectTheSpecs hashtag. Shown here wearing his Rec Specs.
(800) 444-5010, libertysport.com
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Maui Jim
The Official Vision Partner of the Manchester United soccer team, goalie David De Gea is pictured wearing the brand at Old Trafford Stadium.
(888) 666-5905, mauijim.com
SciCon Sports
In partnership with Shamir, the UAE Team Emirates cycling team is outfitted in SciCon Sports.
(760) 788-7500, sciconsports.com
Smart Ways to Sell Lenses to Athletes
Alexandar Andrich, ODThe Vision Development Team, Cleveland, OH
I am a neuro optometrist so I focus specifically on visual skills like hand/eye coordination, eye tracking and depth perception. My area of expertise is the fitting of contact lenses and offering different color tints depending on the sport. Many athletes, both professional and amateur, wear contact lenses. What they’re looking for specifically is comfort and clarity. Some get a small prescription which they wear for their practices and games. It gives enough of a prescription to make a difference in the way they play. Transitions came out with the Acuvue Oasys with Transitions contact lens last year, which is a very good option and awareness of that contact lens is evolving.
Rebecca Furuta Avenue Vision, Golden, CO
My business partner Dr. Joe Borden played soccer in college and I’m a professional cyclist on Team Nova Nordisk, so we have a sports vision focus at our practice. We also carry out sports vision training for our patients. Our training gives patients exercises to help them make more dynamic judgments and to keep them safe in their sport. We tailor sports specific tints and mirror coated lenses to enhance light and diminish light as needed. We sell a lot of Oakley and Nike Vision frames and prescribe blue light protection glasses for our young athletes. Sleep deprivation can also be prevalent among professional athletes. I am a huge fan of Transitions lenses, which can adjust to different light settings, and my favorite pair of cycling glasses are a Transitions lens in an Oakley frame.
