Research & Evidence For Sports Vision: by Steve Leslie Boptom, Leonard Press Od & Mark Overton December 2016
Research & Evidence For Sports Vision: by Steve Leslie Boptom, Leonard Press Od & Mark Overton December 2016
Research & Evidence For Sports Vision: by Steve Leslie Boptom, Leonard Press Od & Mark Overton December 2016
acbo.org.au
December 2016
At the next level, an optometrist can detect visual dysfunctions which potentially can
interfere with a person’s ability to use their vision to perform in sport to their potential.
This may include deficiencies in binocular vison, such as high exophoria or esophoria,
and even subtle or overt strabismus, which can interfere with spatial localisation of a
target or ball, decrease depth perception, and cause delays in changing accommodation-
vergence from near to far to near, as in tennis, squash, cricket and baseball. These visual
dysfunctions can be treated, as detailed above, to remove visual dysfunctional
impediments to using vision optimally for sports performance.
eye movements), which can potentially impact on sports performance and an athlete’s
potential at an elite level. Deficient visual abilities which are correlated by the
optometrist, player and coach may be improved using vision therapy.
Kundson and Kluka reviewed how visual abilities affect sport performance and the
acquisition of motor skills, and can be improved with training. They summarize
important vision information related to performance in sport and show how vision
training improves performance 1.
Maman, Gaurang, and Sandhu studied the effects of vision training on performance of
collegiate tennis players. This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial that included
a placebo and control group. The experimental group underwent eight weeks of vision
training three days a week for 30 minutes each. The placebo group was instructed to
watch televised tennis matches, while the control group was not given any training. At
the end of eight weeks’ training, the pre-training evaluation protocol was repeated. Pre-
and post-test results were obtained for reaction time, depth perception,
accommodation, saccadic eye movements and tennis performance. The statistical
analysis indicated significant improvement in all mentioned visual variables in the
experimental group (p<0.001) and the placebo group (p<0.01), and non-significant
results in the control group 4.
Clark and colleagues published research indicating that vision training can improve
batting performance as well as depth judgement of baseball players at the collegiate
level 5 6.
There is a significant body of work in the specific sports vision literature over the last 30
years, and there are studies suggesting additional work is justified, and considerable
work is being done by Professor Paul Harris at the Southern College of Optometry in the
USA.
Zwierko T (2015)7 in a study testing how binocular vision was influenced by an eye
training program that may be used to improve individual's oculomotor function, showed
that results of the retention testing conducted four weeks after the experiment
confirmed the effectiveness of the vision training program. The results of the study
suggest that binocular functions are trainable and can be improved by means of
appropriate visual training.
In summary, sports vision care is an integral part of everyday optometric care, involving
assessment of visual dysfunctions, and prescription of spectacles, contact lenses and
protective eyewear, where indicated. Deficient visual abilities may have an effect on
sports performance, and can be treated with vision therapy.
References
1
Knudson D. Kluka DA. The Impact of Vision and Vision Training on Sport Performance. J Phys Ed Recr
Dance 1997;68(4):17-24
2
Schwab S, Memmert D. The Impact of a Sports Vision Training Program in Youth Field Hockey Players. J
Sports Sci Med 2012;11(4):624-31.
3
Erickson G. Sports Vision: Vision Care for the Enhancement of Sports Performance. St. Louis:
Butterworth-Heinemann/Elsevier, 2007.
4
Maman P, Gaurang S, Sandhu JS. The effects of vision training on performance in tennis players. Serb J
Sport Sci 2011;5(1):11-16.
5
Clark JF, Ellis JK, Bench J, Khoury J, Graman P. High-Performance Vision Training Improves Batting
Statistics for University of Cincinnati Baseball Players. PLoS One
2012;7(1):e29109.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0029109
6
Clark JF, Graman P, Ellis JK. Depth perception improvement in collegiate baseball players with vision
training. Optom Vis Perf 2015;3(2):106-15.
7
Zwierko T, Puchalska-Niedbał L, Krzepota J, Markiewicz M, Woźniak J, Lubiński W. The Effects of
Sports Vision Training on Binocular Vision Function in Female University Athletes. J Hum Kinet. 2015 Dec
30;49:287-96. doi: 10.1515/hukin-2015-0131. eCollection 2015.