Newest Eyewear Standard for Women's Lacrosse Delayed

"US Lacrosse representatives have reached an agreement with the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) to delay implementation of the new standard for women's lacrosse eyewear until January 1, 2017," reports LaxPower. "Until that date, both the current standard for women's eyewear, ASTM F803, and the new standard passed in 2014, F3077, will be legal for all levels of play governed by US Lacrosse rules." Read more.

International Cricket Star Retires after Freak Eye Injury

"[Mark] Boucher announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday after undergoing surgery, following a freak accident when a bail hit him in the left eye during a tour match against Somerset in Taunton," reports News Track India. "He had been expected to announce his retirement after the three-match Test series against England. Boucher retired as statistically the most successful wicketkeeper of all time with 999 dismissals (one of them as a fielder) in all international formats of the game, including a world record 555 dismissals in Test cricket." Read more.

Preventing Sports Eye Injury Month in September

"Just in time for back-to-school, Prevent Blindness America, The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries and Liberty Sport will continue to support September 2012 as Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the importance as to wearing proper eye protection while playing sports," reports Eye Surf. "The three organizations joined efforts two years ago to launch an awareness campaign to Eye Care Professionals, specifically those who are Sports Eye Injury Prevention Centers, and reached approximately 5,000 retailers, providing them with the materials they need to make eye safety a priority for kids when playing sports." Read more.

Liberty Sport Launches Eye Injury Blog

Liberty Sport has launched a blog at www.sportseyeinjuryprevention.wordpress.com. Eyesurf asks, "Why now? 'We continue to get emails from parents and coaches sharing stories, thanking Liberty Sport for their protective eyewear and how it saved their child’s eyes.  Or worse we get stories about children who actually received eye injuries and now have to wear protective sports eyewear.  Each email ends with the same question – why wasn’t I told and how can I share my story with others so they know?...' says Linda Laube, VP Marketing. Each year, the number of new eye injuries is startling, with an estimated 13,500 legally blinding injuries recurring each year! More than 600,000 eye injuries related to sports and recreation occur annually." Read more.

CooperVision Gives Funding to Sports Teams

CooperVision, a  contact lens manufacturer, announced today the second round of winners of $25,000 in Gear Up Grant funding, according to the company's post. The Gear Up Grant program was established earlier this year as part of the company's Contact Sports initiative, which continues to help young athletes and teams across North America get the athletic equipment they need to succeed, while promoting the importance of eye health. 

The 10 winners are as follows:

• AL Stanback Girls Volleyball Team, Hillsborough, N.C.
• Club Olympia Judo, Fond du Lac, Wis.
• Crested Butte Junior Nordic Ski Team, Crested Butte, Colo.
• Grandview High School Swim Team, Columbus, Ohio
• Glades Day School Football Team, Belle Glade, Fla.
• La Porte Midget Cheer Team, LaPorte, Ind.
• Millennium High School Baseball Team, Tracy, Calif.
• Renaissance Magnet High School Weightlifting Program for Self-Esteem, Meridian, Idaho
• Rock Hill High School Boys Basketball Team, Catawba, S.C.
• Whitewater Alberta Slalom Canoe/Kayak Team, Calgary, Alberta

The 10 winning teams will each receive $2,500 in grant funds and each athlete on the team who needs corrective lenses will receive a one year supply of CooperVision contact lenses.