Tests of sports visual skills

The key factor of testing and improving visual skills varies from one kind of sport to another. For example, golfers need good capability of eye-hand coordination, timing and depth perception. In contrast, team sports players should have good visual memory for remembering the position of other team members and or surrounding objects. There are a lot of tests and therapies that can be carried out to deal with specific sports or activities. In this article, a full range of vision skills that are possibly needed during sports is listed in detail. They are also common testing items that are covered by regular eye examinations taken by athletes.

Focus flexibility and methods for testing and improving it

Focus flexibility is the ability to change focus from near objects to faraway ones, or vice versa. During a typical exam targeting this visual capability, the eye practitioners usually show a video or hologram display and then ask the patients to describe it. Another way is to require the patient to read something that suddenly changes far or near. This visual skill is crucial during lots of sports, like tennis ball. One effective method of enhancing focus flexibility is to practice focus change between computer screen and objects on the wall or even something outside of the window.

Depth perception and its test methods

Widely known as one of the vision skills or elements, depth perception actually stands for the capability of viewing the world in three dimensions. In addition, depth perception involves spatial judgments, such as the distance between an object and the eyes. A test of depth perception requires participants to identify objects or shapes in random dot-patterned backgrounds. Another method is to hold a very small pebble at arm’s length and drop it into a drinking straw.

How to test and improve peripheral vision ability

Peripheral awareness represents the ability to perceive what is happening at the sides of head without turning it. This visual skill plays an important role during certain sports, like football and basketball. In order to test peripheral vision, a sports vision specialist will show a slide straight ahead and flashes other images from various angles at both sides of the patient. To improve this ability or extend peripheral vision field, players should try their best to focus on a busy screen with the head turned to one side.

Dynamic visual acuity and ways to test and enhance it

Dynamic visual acuity determines people’s ability to see objects during quick moving. The vision is worse while individuals are moving than sitting still or reading an eye chart. Sports specialists have created several methods for testing this visual ability. For example, athletes will be asked to identify the quickly moving words or other things showed on a computer screen before they disappear. To enhance dynamic visual acuity, the American Optometric Association recommends a homemade way which involves using revolving letters at arm’s length.

Color vision and the way to diagnose color deficiency

Color vision is the ability to distinguish one color from another. Disability in distinguishing red from green is the most common form of color deficiency. There are several methods for testing color deficiency. People may have color deficiency if they can not see the objects on cards with random dot patterns in different colors. Fortunately, certain tinted lenses can enhance color perception. For people who have serious color deficiency, it is strictly prohibited from driving on the road.