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Family Vision Care Center |
| Sports Vision and Protective Eyewear | ||
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When you train for your sports activities, you probably work on your aerobic capacity, endurance, strength, muscle tone and/or flexibility. But optometrists, coaches and trainers now say that you should train your vision system as well. The stamina, flexibility and fine-tuning of your vision system can sometimes provide you with the split-second timing you need to truly excel at your chosen sport. Skills of Peak Performers The Skills you need for peak performance in your favorite sports are: Dynamic Visual Acuity-which allows you to see objects clearly while in motion. Eye Tracking-the ability 'to keep your eyes on the ball,' no matter how fast it may be traveling Eye Focusing-changing focus quickly and accurately from one distance to another Peripheral Vision-seeing people and objects 'out of the corner of your eye' while concentrating on a fixed point. Fusion Flexibility and Stamina-the ability to keep both eyes working together even under high speed, physically stressful conditions. Depth Perception-quickly and accurately judging the distance and speed of objects. Visualization-picturing events with your 'mind's eye' or imagination. These skills are developed from birth and learned as you grow; they can also be taught, enhanced and improved at almost any time during your life under the direction of a behavioral optometrist who understands how your vision system works. Professional athletes and their coaches have found that vision can play an important part in sports performance, it may be the one thing that keeps a good athlete from being an exceptional one. And, conversely, it can be the all-important factor that pushes a good athlete into a category of excellence. Sports Eyewear An estimated 37,000 people per year, visit the emergency room with sport-related eye injuries. Over 1000 eye injuries occur in the work place each day. The American Optometric Association reports that nearly 110,000 people suffer eye injuries in home accidents annually. These statistics should convince you to wear safety glasses or eye protection during sports or while performing hazardous tasks at home or work. Basketball, baseball and racquetball cause the most sports-related injuries. However, any sport with a projectile is potentially hazardous to your eyes. A regular pair of frames and lenses is not only unable to protect your eyes during these activities, but will likely increase your chances of serious injury. Unless specified, lenses are not impact resistant and will shatter. Sport goggles are a safe, affordable must for spectacle wearers when engaged in sports. Beware of symptoms that include seeing flashing lights or shadows or a darkening of vision. Even in the absence of symptoms, always seek immediate care from an eyecare professional after a severe blow to the head. Routine household cleaning, workshop hobbies and yard work may all endanger your eyes. Wear safety goggles over your contacts or prescription eyewear and lookout for:
Remember that the easiest solution for eye injuries is to prevent them from occurring. Wear protective Eyewear as your activity dictates and start today! |