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Sharper Sight – Stronger Stride: Decoding Visual Requirements in Athletes

by | Apr 1, 2024 | Guest Column | 0 comments

Ms. Somreeta Bhattacharya, B.Optom, Mphil (Optometry), Fellowship BV&VT

Senior Lecturer, Department of Optometry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India

 

Introduction:

‘Sports’ is a remarkable force that transcends boundaries and fosters unity between nations. We frequently hear discussions centred on an athlete’s strength, physical prowess, and skill within their sport. Additionally, we witness the dedication of athletes as they train diligently to cultivate the strength and stamina necessary to perform at their peak. Physical performance metrics are extensively employed for evaluating physical function, offering insights into the physiological and biomechanical aspects of motor performance. However, they lack in uncovering the attentional and visual prerequisites essential for motor performance.(1)

Vision in sports:

Visual demands in athletes are multi-faceted, requiring precision, speed, and adaptability across various sports. (2) From tracking fast-moving objects in ball sports like soccer and basketball to maintaining focus and spatial awareness in gymnastics and figure skating, to high level of vergence demand in archery and shooting, a sports person relies heavily on their visual abilities like.

  • Depth perception
  • Accommodation and vergence function
  • Dynamic visual acuity
  • Peripheral vision
  • Eye movements
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Visual reaction time

These visual functions play crucial roles in their performance, enabling split-second decisions and precise movements. Various sports, whether indoor or outdoor, entail diverse levels of visual functions and proficiency. Assessing these skills often takes a back seat or becomes imperative only when a player experiences issues.

For instance, in cricket, when a ball moves steadily along or near the line of sight, the images on the retina capture both binocular and monocular cues indicating the ball’s current direction of motion in depth. Additionally, these retinal images provide information about the time the ball will arrive, utilising both binocular and monocular cues. (3) Humans possess the ability to decipher and utilise this visual data. Accurately estimating the ball’s absolute distance or approaching speed is challenging but trainable. Also, Batsmen track the ball’s release, swiftly adjusting their gaze to anticipate its trajectory and predict where it might land. Research reveals that the speed of their initial eye movement distinguishes proficient from less skilled players, underscoring the crucial role of eye movement strategy in a cricketer’s performance. (4)Therefore, evaluating these visual functions should accompany routine comprehensive eye exams to detect any delays and offer optimal treatment.

Improving visual abilities in athletes:

Vision therapy improves visual skills used during visual input as well as visual processing to improve overall visual reaction speed(5). Currently, virtual-reality applications are used to simulate real-game scenarios, aiding athletes in improving their visual processing and decision-making under competitive pressures. These therapies aim to improve.

  • Focus and Concentration – Visual training plays a crucial role in improving an athlete’s accommodative abilities, optimising eye coordination, and sharpening concentration and focus, all of which collectively enhance on-field performance.
  • Hand-eye coordination and Visual reaction time(6) Customised visual training programs aim to enhance dynamic visual acuity, eye tracking, and visual processing speed, thereby refining athletic abilities and precision in movements. Improved visual reaction time not only boosts an athlete’s speed and agility but also grants a competitive advantage, ultimately enhancing overall performance.
  • Peripheral Vision Training – Expanding peripheral vision and awareness broadens an athlete’s visual scope, granting an edge in sports that demand simultaneous monitoring of opponents and the field.

Conclusion:

The eye plays an integral function in scoring and stands out in performance; therefore, any sportsperson must be evaluated based on the individual sport’s visual profile and demands and provide necessary management for optimal use of all visual functions

 

References:

  1. Presta, V., Vitale, C., Ambrosini, L., & Gobbi, G. (2021). Stereopsis in Sports: Visual Skills and Visuomotor Integration Models in Professional and Non-Professional Athletes. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(21), 11281. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111281
  2. Presta, V., Vitale, C., Ambrosini, L., & Gobbi, G. (2021). Stereopsis in sports: visual skills and visuomotor integration models in professional and non-professional athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11281.
  3. Regan D. (1997). Visual factors in hitting and catching. Journal of Sports Sciences, 15(6), 533–558. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404197366985
  4. Land, M. F., & McLeod, P. (2000). From eye movements to actions: how batsmen hit the ball. Nature Neuroscience, 3(12), 1340–1345. https://doi.org/10.1038/81887
  5. Feldhacker, D. R., Lucas Molitor, W., Athmann, A., Boell, M., Kaiser, A., Musch, A., & Willhite, L. (2019). Efficacy of high-performance vision training on improving the reaction time of collegiate softball athletes: a randomized trial. Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association, 4(3),
  6. Laby, D. M., Kirschen, D. G., Govindarajulu, U., & DeLand, P. (2018). The hand-eye coordination of professional baseball players: The relationship to batting. Optometry and Vision Science, 95(7), 557-567.

 

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