Anthony Davis reveals he must play in eyewear for rest of career due to detached retina

Anthony Davis has suffered several injuries throughout his time in the NBA. That said, his latest one will affect him for the remainder of his career playing basketball.

At the Mavericks’ Media Day on Monday, Davis updated his status after having surgery on his eye back in July. He suffered a detached retina in his right eye last season, which had to be repaired this offseason after further evaluation. Now, on doctor’s orders, Davis is mandated to wear eye protection for the remainder of his career in the association.

“Yeah, eye feels great. The retina is still, like – there’s drops I have to use in my eye, which causes, like, a little redness and stuff. But, vision is back,” Davis said. “I’m ready to go.”

“Yeah, that is a mandate from the doctor that I have to, so – for the rest of the career. There’s no, yeah – which I’m not too excited about, but,” said Davis later in the press conference regarding the eyewear he’s been using. “So, I’ve been wearing them in the summer working out and everything like that. I’m trying to get used to them, but, yeah. You guys will see me in the Horace Grants this year, the Kareems. I will have some protective eyewear, for sure.”

The injury happened back on April 2nd in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Davis took an elbow from his own teammate in Daniel Gafford as they reached for a loose ball down in the paint, which led to some bleeding above his eye and required eight stitches before returning to the game. However, it wasn’t until check up in the offseason that they realized his eye was hurt from it and would need surgery.

“I think when (Gafford) elbowed me, it kind of, like, caused some problems in my eye. Then, in the summer, I always get like a routine checkup, and realized that I had to have surgery,” said Davis.

Again, Davis is used to dealing with injuries at this point as he has handled fractures, sprains, strains, spasms, and tears all over his body while in the league. This one, though, may be one of his more significant considering his vision could be at risk in his life beyond basketball.

Davis is going into his first full season with the Mavericks after being traded back in February, and is entering his 14th year in the NBA. He, in just 11 appearances for Dallas, also due to various health issues, following the trade, averaged 22.5 points (47.3% FG), 9.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. Nine of those were in the regular season before a pair of Play-In Games in trying to make the NBA Playoffs.

Davis has already been known for his very distinct look with the unibrow. His face will now include another feature too now with goggles or glasses as directed by his eye doctors.