Sports Vision Training and Vision Therapy

According to the International Sports Vision Association, vision is a vital component of an athlete’s performance. Serious players are willing to do everything they can to be number one in their game. They know that with consistent hard work, they can fulfill their goals. Strict diet plans, workout routines, and resting techniques should be in the player’s performance process. Others take it a step further and go through sports vision training and vision therapy. If you want to find out what these practices are, here’s what you need to know.

 

The Basics of Sports Vision Training

Players undertake this training to heighten their visual abilities for their chosen sport. Sports vision training consists of screenings and visual tests to check a player’s optical performance. The sports vision trainer can develop a training program based on the sport and the player’s capabilities. Sports vision training checks the efficiency of a player’s visual skills. Some of these skills are the following:

 

• Reaction time: This is the rate at which you can react to stimulation and see an event
   

• Eye-tracking: This is your ability to focus your attention on the ball
   

• Balance: This is how well you can control your body movement while staying upright
   

• Peripheral awareness: This is your ability to see from the corner of your eye
   

• Contrast sensitivity: This is how well you can identify an object from the background
   

• Dynamic visual acuity: This is your ability to see objects while they are moving
   

• Depth perception: This is how well you can judge the speed and distance of an object with accuracy and speed
   

• Body-eye and hand-eye coordination: This is your ability to use your eyes to guide your limbs, hands, and body
   

• Focusing: This is your ability to change focus from one object to another with clarity and speed

Athletes must possess and enhance these skills according to the sport they play. As an athlete, you must learn your capabilities and limitations. Doing so can help you focus on the skills you need most to excel in your sport.

 

Basics of Vision Therapy

This is an effective program for improving vision skills to achieve a more comfortable and clearer vision. You can develop normal vision skills through therapeutic eye exercises. Vision therapy aims to improve the communication between your eyes and your brain. It is a personalized treatment program. Your eye doctor can use vision therapy with other treatments like eye surgery or eyeglasses.

 

Your eye doctor will supervise your vision therapy. It is a weekly session lasting 30-45 minutes each time. You must maintain these sessions to reach your goal. Children often have vision therapy to correct vision problems early in their lives, yet, adults can also experience the same benefits. This is because of neuroplasticity, which makes your brain flexible and dynamic.

 

Adults have the motivation to improve their visual skills. They can look at visual training as learning how to play a musical instrument or a task at work. Practice is key.


 

Sports vision training and vision therapy can help you regain your eye health. At Alta Loma Optometric, we always guide our patients during their treatments and procedures. Call our clinic in Rancho Cucamonga, California, at 909-787-1760 if you want to schedule a consultation or ask questions about our sports vision training and vision therapy packages.