CONNECTING OUR EYES, BRAIN, AND BODY CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
How Age Affects Sports Vision — Part 1: The Problems
There are many things you can do to optimize your sports vision throughout your life
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a recreational weekend warrior, as you age, your vision changes and so does your need for corrective eyewear or other interventions.
A perfect example is Tom Brady who recently un-retired to return as quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although he has won 7 Super Bowls, is a 5-time Super Bowl MVP, has been the NFL most valuable player three times, and is a 15 time Pro Bowler even he cannot escape the effects of aging.
Aging can effect many abilities critical to elite sports performance, but here we will focus (pardon the pun) on the visual effects.
In Part 1 we will look at how age affects sports vision. Part 2 will detail what you can do to maintain clear vision and optimal performance on the playing field.
Changes in sharpness of vision with age
The most common vision problem that affects athletes of all ages is a refractive error, or the need for glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. Refractive error occurs when the eye’s lens cannot maintain the focus of light on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the most common type of refractive error. With myopia, close objects are clear, but distant objects appear blurry. Myopia usually begins in childhood or adolescence and generally stabilizes by age 20. However, in some cases, myopia can progress with age.
Athletes who are myopic have difficulty seeing the ball, the opponents, and the game field when they’re playing. Myopic athletes are also at risk for sustaining serious eye injuries if they collide with another player or object on the playing field.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is another type of refractive error. People who are hyperopic can see distant objects clearly but have trouble focusing on near objects. Hyperopia often stabilizes in early adulthood but can also worsen with age.
Athletes who are hyperopic may have difficulty seeing the ball when it approaches or the playing field when they’re playing.
Astigmatism is another, different, type of refractive error that can be present with either myopia or hyperopia. People with astigmatism have an irregularly shaped cornea, preventing light from focusing properly on the retina. Think about a normally shaped eye is like a basketball and an eye with astigmatism is shaped more like an American football.
Astigmatism can result in blurred vision at all distances. Like myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or possibly refractive surgery.
Presbyopia is another type of vision problem that affects people over the age of 40, and progresses until about 65 years of age. Presbyopia occurs when the eye’s lens becomes less flexible, making it stiffer and more difficult to focus on close objects. Presbyopia can be corrected with glasses or bifocal lenses.
Athletes who are presbyopic may have difficulty seeing the ball when they’re batting or perhaps the scorecard when they record performance.
Changes in the eye’s structure
Cataracts are a type of vision problem that can occur at any age but they are more common in people over the age of 60. Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes clouded, resulting in blurry vision. Cataracts can usually be treated with surgery.
Glaucoma is another type of vision problem that can occur at any age but is more common beginning in the 40’s or 50’s. Glaucoma occurs when the pressure in the eye becomes too high, resulting in damage to the retinal nerve fibers and the optic nerve. Glaucoma can usually be treated with medication or surgery.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a type of vision problem that also usually occurs in people over the age of 60. AMD occurs when the central, best vision portion of the retina (the macula) deteriorates, resulting in blurry vision. There is no cure for AMD, but there are treatments that can slow its progression.
In the second part of this series, we will review how to maintain clear vision at any age, to allow optimal visual function and sports performance.
Would you like to learn more about how your eyes can help you play better in your sport? Sign up for my 5-day FREE Email course by clicking here (safe link to my website).
