August 13, 2024

Sports Vision for High School Athletes

High school is a time of many turbulences and significant changes. Between midterms, final exams, dating, and prom, teenagers face many emotional, intellectual, and physical challenges. It is also a time in which sports play…
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Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy

High school is a time of many turbulences and significant changes. Between midterms, final exams, dating, and prom, teenagers face many emotional, intellectual, and physical challenges. It is also a time in which sports play an integral part of a person’s social life. Their success and achievements (or lack, thereof) are major factors that shape the teenager’s personality.

A deficiency in visual skills can result in athletic underperformance. This may demotivate young athletes, potentially leading them to abandon the sport they love. Athletic success, on the other hand, is a catalyst for self-confidence, and that’s where sports vision training comes in. The staff at Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy will help develop sports-specific visual skills and empower young athletes to perform better in sports and in life.

playing sportsWhy Sports Vision Training Matters for Young Athletes

It takes way more than physical strength and speed to be at the top of your game. Whether your child engages in basketball, hockey, football or tennis, he or she needs excellent visual skills to excel in their sport. Many high school teachers, coaches, and parents are unaware of the significant ways in which sports vision training can help the young athlete develop visual and athletic capabilities for improved athletic performance.

What Is Sports Vision and Why Is It Important?

Teenage athletes regularly train their bodies as needed for their sports discipline. At the gym, for example, a teacher or coach instructs them on which equipment to train and which exercises to carry out to achieve maximum results.

Visual skills training is very similar. The sports vision trainer will first assess the status of different visual skills essential to the sports discipline. These may include eye-hand coordination, visual reaction speed, visual tracking, binocular vision, and other visual processing capabilities.

The young athlete will attend regular sessions in our practice with a sports vision trainer, who provides personalized exercises to enhance the specific visual skills he or she may be lacking. In addition, the youngster will perform daily exercises at home or as part of the team training.

By training teenagers to develop specific visual skills and processing, they retrain their brains to effectively interact with the eyes and improve vision functioning. As a result, sports performance improves, and self-confidence thrives.

Visual Skills Required for Athletic Performance

man holding racket

Take a look at some of the vital visual skills required in most sports.

  • Visual reaction time: The speed at which the brain processes visual input from the eyes
  • Visual tracking: accurately tracking a fast-moving object or person
  • Binocular vision: simultaneous accurate focusing and tracking with both eyes
  • Depth perception: identifying the exact location and distance of an object or person
  • Hand-eye and body-eye coordination: coordinating visual information with other motor skills
  • Eye focusing/accommodation: the ability to quickly and accurately adjust eye focus
  • Peripheral vision: is the part of your vision that lies beyond your direct line of sight – what you see from the edge of your visual field

Individual Training Protocols for Teenage Athletes

At Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy we perform a thorough assessment of these and other visual skills to identify the precise areas that need to be developed. This allows us to create a goal-oriented vision training plan for each individual high school athlete and help them succeed in their favourite sport.

Contact Opto-Mization to get a detailed evaluation of your young athlete’s visual skills and help them achieve their athletic goals.

Our practice serves patients from Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia and surrounding communities.

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Our Victoria Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
200-775 Topaz Ave
Victoria, BC V8T 4Z7
Phone
(250) 590-7384
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Friday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
5.0
Out of 265 Reviews
Our Nanaimo Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
205-1825 Bowen Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
Phone
(250) 591-0270
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Thursday:
    11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Friday:
    9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    Closed
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
4.9
Out of 59 Reviews

You Ask, We'll Answer

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  • What is Neuro-Optometry?

    Neuro-Optometry focuses on the intricate connection between your visual system and the brain, extending beyond traditional eye care to assess functional vision. This branch of optometry examines how your eyes track, move, coordinate, and how your brain processes depth, motion, and balance. Disruptions in these functions can lead to a range of issues including headaches, migraines, dizziness, balance challenges, post-concussion symptoms, reading difficulties, and attention deficits (ADHD). By exploring these functional areas, we also identify opportunities to enhance performance in activities such as sports, reading speed, and cognitive processes.

  • What is Vision Therapy?

    At Opto-Mization, vision therapy is a specialized, personalized program aimed at improving visual skills and abilities. It goes beyond traditional vision therapy to help improve how the eyes and brain work together, addressing visual-motor and perceptual-cognitive challenges to enhance overall visual function. It’s more than just exercises; it’s a pathway to better vision and improved daily life.

  • Do you Provide Regular Eye Exams and General Optometric Services?

    Yes, alongside vision therapy and neuro-optometry, we offer comprehensive eye exams and general optometry services. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough eye exams to evaluate overall eye health, identify any eye conditions or diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses when beneficial.

  • Who is the Ideal Candidate for Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometry?

    Vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help individuals of all ages. Whether you’re struggling with visual processing issues, binocular vision disorders, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), or have sustained a brain injury, our services might be beneficial for you. Contact us to discuss if our tailored approach can meet your specific needs and goals.

  • Do I Need a Referral to See an Optometrist at Opto-Mization?

    No, you do not need a referral for an eye exam at Opto-Mization. We welcome anyone who suspects they might benefit from our services, whether you’re experiencing symptoms of visual discomfort or just want to ensure optimal visual performance. Feel free to reach out and schedule your appointment directly with us to take the first step toward understanding and improving your visual function.

  • Do You Direct Bill Insurance?

    Yes, we offer direct billing for a variety of insurance plans to make the process as seamless and hassle-free as possible for our patients. Our knowledgeable staff is well-versed in working with insurance providers, ensuring that you can maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for our services, including vision therapy and eye exams.