Why Athletes Should Consider Regular Eye Check-Ups for Optimal Performance 

Athletes come in all shapes and sizes. But one thing remains constant—the need to focus and visualize the end goal. Whether this is shooting hoops, hitting a home run, seeing a stride, honing for the perfect target shot, or anything else, eye health for athletes is a vital element of self-care. 

It doesn’t end there, however. Because the eyes are one of the first bodily regions to show signs of disease and illness. Many long-term conditions have been highlighted through a simple check-up with an eye doctor. While athletes will, naturally, be concentrating on other areas of fitness, the following looks at why an annual or bi-annual eye exam should also be on the must-do list.

The Importance of Eye Health for Athletes: 

• Vision performance in sports
• The eyes are a window into health

Vision performance in sports

Eyesight quality undoubtedly impacts performance. The higher the level of sport, the more this is relevant—and national and international-level athletes (and those striving for such achievements) should aim to do everything possible for optimum vision.

In the USA, it’s estimated that around 40% of people suffer from myopia (short-sightedness). This figure is rising each year, especially amongst children. Conversely, around 60% of Americans are long-sighted (hyperopia). While not every person will necessarily require prescription lenses, in sports where excellent vision is key it’s easy to see why regular eye checks are so important.

The eyes are a window into whole-body health

As well as having a bearing on performance, certain illnesses and diseases often show up within the eye before other symptoms begin to show. While this, naturally, is important for overall health, the very beginnings of a health condition can also negatively influence performance.

Examples of early-stage problems that can sometimes be picked up during an eye examination include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure): Retinal damage can be a sign of this, sometimes called, “silent” disease.
• High cholesterol: Something that often—but not always—goes hand-in-hand with hypertension.
• Autoimmune conditions: Including Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Graves’ Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Myasthenia gravis, and more.
• Drug toxicity: All drugs come with potential side effects, some of which can show up in or around the eyes.
• Vitamin A deficiency: This can have various effects, including dry eyes and—in a worst-case scenario—even lead to blindness.
• Cardiovascular problems: Including heart disease, clotting, and bleeding disorders.
• Various types of cancer: Such as leukemia, skin cancers, brain tumors, and breast cancer.
• Diabetes: A condition, known as diabetic retinopathy, causes leaky blood vessels in the eye. This can occur even before a diabetes diagnosis.

While this list is by no means finite, it gives a good overview of how whole-body health is often reflected within the eyes.

How to Integrate Eye Health into Sports Training

• The importance of scheduling
• The best eye exercises for athletes

The importance of scheduling

Whatever your age, regular eye exams should be considered as important as other health checks. For athletes, the importance of proactive healthcare can’t be overstated—it’s vital to include regular eye check-ups in your health schedule. Consider them to be as essential as dietary checks, bloodwork, weigh-ins, VO2 max monitoring, and other ways in which performance is monitored.

The best eye exercises for athletes

There are many ways athletes can help keep their best vision. Some simple exercises and habits include:

• Eye yoga: Such as moving the eyes in a figure eight, looking up/down and side-to-side with the eyes closed, and moving the eyes in large circular movements.
• Improving peripheral vision: Try following a moving object without moving the eyes. This can help reduce the natural reduction in peripheral vision that comes with age.
• 20:20:20: If looking at a screen, look away at least every 20 minutes, focusing the gaze around 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• Blinking and warm compresses: These help promote healthy eye lubrication and relax the muscles around the eye. Placing the palms over the eyes without pressure can also help this.

In addition, wearing any visual aids (eyeglasses, contact lenses) that are prescribed can go a long way to ensuring healthy vision. In some cases, it can even promote an improvement in a prescription.

Partner with the WBEC for the Ultimate Eye Health for Athletes

Whatever your age or level of sport, the overarching premier visual care provided by the West Boca Eye Center really can help give athletes the edge over the competition. Benefiting from your best possible vision is the perfect partner to all the other crucial elements of your training.

Great eye health for athletes (indeed, for anyone) begins with regular eye checks. 

Visit https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ for more information and call to schedule your appointment today.