Collingwood big man Mason Cox has called for “disgusting” remarks around his prescription glasses, revealing that his recovery from eye surgery was the “lowest moment” of his life.
Three years ago, former Gold Coast Sun rockman Peter Wright accidentally stabbed Cox in the eye, causing his retina to rupture. His other retina was also severed during a brawl with West Coast Eagles defender Tom Baras in the 2018 Grand Final.
Since 2019, the 31-year-old has undergone six surgeries – three on his left eye, two on his right and cataract surgery.
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The forward made a bold new appearance during the match this season, wearing black prescription sunglasses after receiving permission from the AFL.
Speaking of KIIS 101.1 Jess and LaurenCox opened up about the traumatic injury that almost forced him to lose his sight permanently.
“I won’t go into too much detail but basically half of my eyes were pulled out, half of my retina fell out and I had to go to the hospital, the thing had to be stitched again and I went blind,” he said.
“For about 45 minutes every hour I stared at my back to the roof, unable to see for two weeks. For two weeks alone I could not see anything in the dark room.
“People talk about quarantine getting worse. Fingers up, sit at home and can’t get out of bed for two weeks, and (then) talk to me.
“It was probably the lowest moment of my life, I would say it. But we’ve come out on the other end and anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I guess.”
“It’s part of it. You compare it to everything now. Life can be a lot worse. I can go back to that state.”
Asked if he had ever considered ending his career, American Importer replied: “The whole time I was blind, I was like, ‘I obviously wouldn’t be able to play footy if I didn’t see.’
“The vision slowly came back and now I have a prescription that stays in the glasses whenever I play.
“You can imagine, you’ve lost your sight and you’re leaving, ‘Wow, I have full confidence in these doctors that this thing will come back.’ I’m sitting. “
Cox’s unique prescription glasses made him a target of ridicule, which he called “disgusting.”
He explained that he could not play without glasses.
“Sometimes it’s actually still people in the media talking about it and saying some disgusting things about it to be honest. But I’m not going to get into it too much,” he said.
“Yeah, it’s a medical thing man. It’s a different look, I understand that and it’s different for people to see it. But I’m almost blind to the game of footy so I have to protect my eyes. Being able to see this.
“It’s a different look but it’s part of the process and that’s my long-term position.”
Cox recently said he believes ridiculing things other than static is inherent in Australian culture.
“I think it’s a bit of an Australian, to be honest, they don’t like something that looks a little different or doesn’t fit inside the box,” he told AFL.com.au last week.
“Sorry I’m a little too big to fit inside the box.”
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