Sports Vision Training
Athletes use sports vision training to elevate their level of play and edge out the competition. In today’s world of competitive sports performance most athletes have the physical strength, speed and endurance necessary to play the game. However, it is visual processing and reaction speed that separates the high performing athlete. These high performing athletes have the ability to make split-second, game-changing decisions that lead their teams to victory – and many use sports vision training to rise above the competition.
The good news is that any athlete, regardless of level of play, can improve visual athletic visual performance with sports vision training.
Sports vision training is an aspect of athletic performance training that is overlooked by many athletes, coaches, and professional trainers. Why? Because they are unaware that visual performance can be significantly improved when using an individualized sports vision training program with a professional vision training coach. It is important to mention that using generic vision activities do not produce results comparable to that of an individualized, professional sports vision training program overseen by a residency trained neuro-optometrist. Think of sports vision training as similar to going to the gym for a workout. If you use the incorrect piece of equipment, or don’t use proper form, you won’t achieve the same results as you do when using a personal trainer to guide you through an individualized workout plan. Similar activities with very different results.
Sports vision training has little to do with improving the clarity of one’s vision (visual acuity) and everything to do with improving visual performance (specific visual skills used during competition). These skills include:
- Binocular vision (depth perception)
- Eye tracking
- Eye focusing
- Visual attention (both central and peripheral)
- Visual processing speed (reactive agility)
At Advanced Vision Therapy Center, our sports vision experts evaluate visual performance specific to the sport and position played. The test results generate an individualized Athlete Vision Profile. This profile shows areas of visual strengths and weaknesses as well as visual performance as compared to that of elite and professional athletes; and is used to develop a structured, sport specific sports vision training program to address visual system deficits. All sports vision training programs are performed one-on-one with a professional vision training coach and overseen by residency trained neuro-optometrist Dr. Raya Sinha – sports vision specialist.
Who Can Benefit from Sports Vision Training?
Sports vision training was once reserved for collegiate and professional athletes. Now, sports vision training is available for both youth and adult athletes of all ages and levels of play. Sports vision training is a good fit for any athlete who wants to take performance to the next level.
At The Vizo Advanced Vision Therapy Center, our youth athletes are typically old enough to have identified a sport (or sports) in which they wish to excel, and view the sport as competitive rather than purely recreational. This group of youth athletes includes players in middle school who want to compete in high school, and high school athletes who wish to play at the collegiate level or pursue scholarships. Youth athletes benefit from sports vision training because it provides a competitive edge and enhances performance – improving prospects of play at the next level and beyond.
At The Vizo Advanced Vision Therapy Center, adult athletes in our sports vision training program vary in their level of play from weekend warriors to collegiate and semi-professional athletes; but they all have one thing in common – they want to perform at their personal best. Sports vision training is ideal for adults who have a competitive spirit. Whether playing a sport as a career professional or for the sheer joy of beating out friends on the weekend, improving visual performance gives any athlete the upper hand.
Which Skills are Improved with Sports Vision Training?
Sports vision training at Advanced Vision Therapy Center develops visual skills used during visual input as well as visual processing in order to improve overall visual reaction speed. Improved visual reaction speed in essence allows the athlete to see the game in “slow motion”; giving the athlete time to anticipate, react and make game changing decisions all with improved accuracy and split-second timing.
Skill improvement is achieved through a series of specific vision activities utilizing specialized equipment and under the guidance of a professional vision training coach. This allows the athlete to maximize his or her ability to accurately, quickly, precisely and consistently interpret what they see during competition.
Every sports vision training program at Advanced Vision Therapy Center is individualized and specific to the results of the Athlete Vision Assessment and the Athlete Vision Profile. Sports vision training programs are used to improve:
- Accommodation (Eye Focusing)
- Depth Perception
- Reactive Agility (Visual Reaction Speed)
- Scanning and Tracking
- Vergence (Binocular Vision)
- Visual Attention & Processing
The Vizo Advanced Vision Therapy Center Difference
The sports vision training program at Advanced Vision Therapy Center is considered a premiere Pacific Northwest sports vision training program. Our program is recognized for delivering research based sports vision training that is goal oriented and results driven. We provide a comprehensive approach to athlete vision care and visual skill development.
Athlete Vision Assessment
Every athlete undergoes an Athlete Vision Assessment. This allows our doctor to evaluate the visual skills necessary to compete at optimum levels. An Athlete Vision Assessment differs from an eye exam in that sport-specific visual skills are evaluated and compared to those of elite and professional athletes. This allows our doctor to:
- Prescribe competition specific correction to achieve better than 20/20 visual acuity
- Determine the precision, speed and accuracy of visual input
- Evaluate how efficiently the visual system interprets the game
Athlete Vision Profile
The visual abilities evaluated during the Athlete Vision Assessment are analyzed and, in conjunction with the elite and professional athlete performance comparison, are used to develop the Athlete Vision Profile. The Athlete Vision Profile is a sport specific overview of the visual strengths and weaknesses in context to the position played and the desired level of competition. This Athlete Vision Profile is the foundation of our individualized sports vision training program, and allows our doctor and professional vision training coaches to tailor the program to the specific needs of the athlete.
Individualized Vision Training Program
Sports vision training makes good athletes great. The individualized sports vision training programs at Advanced Vision Therapy Center provide targeted vision performance training, with sport and position specificity, to enhance and develop elevated levels of sports performance. All athletes work one-on-one with a professional sports vision training coach to improve visual performance deficits and address areas of weakness identified in the Athlete Vision Profile. The sports vision training programs at Advanced Vision Therapy Center are unique in that they are tailored to meet each athlete at their current level of visual performance, ameliorate visual performance deficits, and elevate the athlete’s level of play. All sports vision training programs are under the supervision and direction of residency trained neuro-optometrist Dr. Raya Sinha, who closely monitors progress toward performance goals throughout the sports vision training program.