Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM December 2019 | Page 22

HEALTH
JEMYRE FELTON, OD
Amazing Point of View Eye Care & Eye Gym
832-340-776
www.amazingpointofview.com
What is Sports Vision?
S
ports vision training is a type of optometric
vision therapy that enhances sports
performance by improving the connection
between the eye and brain so that the brain
processes more of what the eyes see. Vision
is the primary sense used by athletes and accounts for
more than 85% of the sensory processing demands
used during sports activity.  Studies show that the most
successful athletes are those with the best visual-motor
function. In the same way that an athlete improves
sports performance by training the body for strength
and endurance, visual skills can be improved and
enhanced through a wide range of eye conditioning
procedures.  Superior visual skills can propel good
athletes to higher levels of performance. Sports
vision training can improve athletic performance for
children and adults alike for players, weekend warriors,
firefighters, police officers and military personnel.
How does it work?
At the initial examination, the doctor will perform an
assessment to determine each athletes’ visual abilities
and weaknesses pertaining to the sport of their choice.
With the results,
the doctor will then
evaluate where
each athlete ranks
in comparison to
their peers playing
the same sport at
the same level of
play. Afterward, a
training program
will be formulated
to improve the
areas that the
athlete is deficient
in. Performance
training of these
skillsets is not a
‘one size fits all’
approach, as the
visual skills for
optimum athletic performance will vary, depending
on the demands of each sport.  Training of the visual
system is utilized to enhance the elite performance level
of many professional sports teams such as the Houston
Rockets and the Houston Astros. Sports Vision training
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has been proven to improve competitive performance
by enhancing situational awareness, focus flexibility,
reading of human movement cues, and tracking of
dynamic scenes. Sports vision training utilizes exercises
to improve:
• speed and accuracy of eye movements
• eye-hand coordination
• depth perception
• peripheral awareness
• dynamic visual acuity
• contrast sensitivity
• reaction time
• eye teaming abilities
• eye tracking
In baseball and tennis: sports vision training helps in
predicting the speed and location of the ball.
In soccer, hockey, and volleyball: sports vision
training helps with anticipating and reacting more
quickly when a puck or ball is headed your direction,
as well as increase the accuracy and speed of the eye-
hand response.
In basketball:
sports vision training
helps improve
peripheral vision
which allows players
to more quickly
process the location
of other teammates
as well as opponents.
Basketball players
will also be able to
develop their ability
to focus quickly and
accurately while in
motion.
In track and skiing:
sports vision training
enhances depth
perception and
improves contrast
sensitivity.
In football: sports vision training will strengthen the
eye-foot response as well as expand depth perception.
Sports vision training is for athletes of all ages and
all activity levels. It is no longer reserved for only sports
professionals and elite athletes.