University invests in sports vision centre

The Sports Vision Association is to establish a 'Centre of Excellence' for sports vision at Loughborough University next year.
It is intended that sports vision practitioners will be authorised to practise at the centre, following a selection process involving the university and the English Institute of Sport.
SVA hopes the centre, sited at the world-famous campus for sporting development, will become internationally recognised, attracting world-class athletes. It will be designed to support its members and 'extend this lucrative aspect of optics'.
The building is part of a new building project for 2003 at the university, which will include support centres for sports physiotherapy and nutrition. Major sponsors are being sought to help finance the centre, which will be in an ideal location said SVA secretary Dr Alan Smith.
He added that the sports eyewear market was expanding, profitable and available. 'Opticians need to become more aware and involved in this market because if they don't other more proactive marketeers will.'
The SVA is set to launch a web page, with details of its courses.