Sports vision and Sports vision testing: How good the eyes of a Sportsman should be?

Elite athletes face intense visuo-motor demands requiring millisecond-level decision making to convert vision into action. Some crucial skills in competition are directly linked to the visual process. Sports Vision assessment is helpful to classify the areas of assessment in order to better understand how the factors affect performance

How good the eyes of a Sportsman should be?

Sports vision and Sports vision testing: — Each layer of the pyramid is laid on the one below and contributes to the overall strength and stability of the structure. For objects on or near the top of the pyramid to be stable, they must be placed on a solid foundation. So is the case with the Sports Vision Pyramid. The apex of the pyramid is “Best On-Field Performance.” For that to Occur, it must rest on several layers Of solid visual function.

The base Of the pyramid is concerned with optimizing monocular visual function. The two main components of this level are visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Optimizing visual acuity usually entails a careful refraction paying special attention to small cylindrical corrections.

It has been Our experience that correcting small amounts Of astigmatism can have a dramatically positive effect on the visual acuity of elite athletes.
Contrast sensitivity, especially at the higher spatial frequencies, is vital for optimum visual performance. Various filters can be used to enhance contrast sensitivity; this includes yellow goggles for skiers on a cloudy day, which allow them to see the changes in the terrain (i.e., moguls) more easily. Other filters can decrease glare on a sunny day or under bright stadium lights.

After fully testing and correcting monocular visual functions, we must turn our attention to how the two eyes work together. The next level Of the pyramid is concerned with binocular visual functions, for example, stereopsis. Unlike the arms and legs, which are designed to work independently, the eyes are “wired” to work together. There are several visual conditions that can negatively influence binocularity. Motor problems such as strabismus or fixation disparity or sensory problems such as suppression or
amblyopia can compromise binocularity. Visual efficiency prob- lems such as accommodative Or vergence infacilities Can also negatively influence binocularity.

Only after the first two levels of the pyramid have been optimized, can our attention be turned to the third level, which comprises visual mechanics. This level of the pyramid highlights how the brain uses the visual information it has been provided to instruct the arms. the legs, and the rest of the body to successfully compete. Attempting to train the visual mechanics

Who Should Have a Sports Vision Testing/ assessment?

A Sports Vision Assessment is of benefit regardless of the sport you play.

It is especially recommended for:

Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Football

Golf
Hockey
Lacrosse

Soccer
Tennis

The ball is only 3 in. in diameter, and the bat is only 2.25 in. in diameter, which does not leave much room for error.

The batter has only 100 millisec to “look” at the pitch and to extract information about the spin, trajectory, and velocity of the ball all of which must

be completed within that short time.

The batter then has 75 millisec to “think” about the information just collected and calculate the location Of the ball as it approaches and crosses the plate.

The batter then has 50 millisec to “decide” whether to swing or not. Therefore, a swing has to be initiated after only 225 millisec from first seeing the pitch or the batsman will not be able to get the bat around fast enough to make successful contact with the ball.

As a testament to how difficult it is to hit a baseball, it is the only sport in which the player can fail 7 out of 10 times and still be considered a hero and reach financial success.

For the batter to be successful in the above example, several aspects of the visual system, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and binocular vision must be active and functioning at the highest level.

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What is sports vision testing / sports vision assessment ?

A sports Vision testing includes sport-specific visual skills test which are not generally done in routine eye examination.

A sports Vision testing includes the following test

A test of Visual Acuity
A test of Visual Processing Speed and Hand-Eye Coordination

A test of Contrast Sensitivity
A test of Eye Tracking
A test of Ocular Alignment

A test of Eye Dominance
A test of Depth Perception
Accomodation

What are the benefits of sports and performance vision training?

Sport vision training aproaches provide another opportunity for the athlete to enhance vision and visual performance factors that are importante for their sport.

sports and performance vision training helps the athelete improve their vision and performance of their sport.

Your individual sports vision profile may be compared with the elite of your field and scope of improvements can be analysed.

The professional vision training coaches can then tailor the Vision training program to your specific needs and advice you appropriate correction.

What can a Sports Vision Doctor do for You?

A sports Vision doctor can prescribe you sport-specific frame design that improves peripheral vision and safety as well as specific lens designs that minimize distortion and provide edge-to-edge clarity in your lenses.
The sports vision doctors can take your sport-specific visual demands into consideration and prescribes specific lens designs to maximize visual performance during competition.
They can show vision training exercises and recommendations to improve sports vision

What is contrast sensitivity in sports?

Contrast sensitivity, the ability to quickly identify and track objects against various backgrounds and varying lighting levels.

If you have trouble seeing objects against a similar background, especially in low-light conditions, your sports vision eye doctor may recommend eyeglasses or contact lenses with specific lens tints to help increase visibility, or they may suggest custom optics in your glasses or contact lenses.

What is Accomodation of eye in sports?

Accommodation, or eye focusing, allows an athlete to keep the game in focus. The strength, speed and accuracy of accommodation are especially important when viewing objects moving at high speeds (such as a ball or puck) or when scanning the field of play.

What is Depth perception of eye in sports?

Depth perception is dependent on the ability to use both eyes together in a very precise manner. It gives you 3D perception of things and tells you its exact location.

If you underestimate the distance to your target, it may be due to poor depth perception. A sports vision checks the depth Perception and advice Visual exercise to correctit.

What is checked in Player’s Eye tracking Test?

A Player’s spatial awareness and visual attention is tested in an Eye tracking Test.

Sports often require an athlete to divide their visual attention between central objects (such as the ball) and peripheral objects (such as incoming defenders).

There are a number of Eye Tracking tests that your sports vision eye doctor can conduct to assess and improve how well your eyes follow moving objects.