For athletes, good vision is more than just a nice-to-have. It has a direct impact on performance, safety, and overall success — so it can be the difference between victory and defeat.
LASIK laser eye surgery has become increasingly popular with athletes desiring to lessen or abandon their dependence on glasses or contact lenses altogether.
Although LASIK is not a sports-performance enhancement technique, per se, improved eyesight can promote faster reaction times and overall comfort. It can remove what would otherwise be an extra challenge — glasses or contact lenses — and ensure there’s a more level playing field.
If you decide to get the procedure, find a LASIK surgeon with experience and expertise. You’ll want to book a consultation, get the pre-surgery exams, and decide whether to move forward.
What follows are five ways LASIK can improve sports performance.
- Better Visual Clarity When Moving Quickly
Many sports demand that athletes be able to process visual information quickly. To follow a ball, predict the movement of an opponent, or cover rough terrain, you must be able to see clearly. However, sports goggles often move, fog up, and fall off, while contact lenses may dry out and become cloudy because of the amount of water in the environment.
LASIK surgery corrects issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by ensuring proper focusing on the retina from the light entering the eye. Once the recovery process is complete, people notice smooth and continuous vision, unlike the disruption caused by wearing corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Athletes engaged in fast-paced games, such as basketball, soccer, tennis, and cycling, can better remain focused on their endeavors with the clarity provided by LASIK.
- More Freedom of Movement and Comfort
Physical comfort is important, and when performance is at stake, it’s essential. Wearing glasses or sports goggles can be cumbersome — perhaps impeding concentration and performance. Contact lenses are far more flexible, but they can cause irritation and dryness in the eyes.
Meanwhile, LASIK eliminates the need for the use of external visual aids, so athletes can move around easily without having to think about the devices being on their faces or eyes. Whether you’re a swimmer, runner, martial artist, or contact sports player, LASIK might be among the few viable options since glasses may be a non-option.
- Improved Depth Perception and Awareness
Having good depth perception is useful for things like estimating distances on the playing field. When vision correction is unequal or imperfect, or when lens movement is impaired, depth perception may be affected. The purpose of LASIK is to provide equal vision correction to both eyes, which can promote improved binocular vision.
Enhanced depth perception can aid in more accurate distance estimation, timely reactions, and accurate movements. It can be especially helpful in sports like baseball, golf, skiing, and climbing, where depth perception is key to success.
- Boosted Confidence and Concentration Levels
If you’re engaged in athletics and underperform because of issues with glasses or contacts, that can be a competitive advantage for the opposition and a decided disadvantage for you.
Many athletes find that LASIK gives them greater confidence because they no longer have to rely on their glasses or contacts when participating in sports. Being able to see without glasses or contacts could help athletes clear their minds and focus on high-level competition.
- Performance in Various Environments
Athletes exercise under several conditions. In some instances, wearing glasses might cause glare or fog up, while contact lenses might not work well when the environment is dry, dusty, or breezy.
LASIK can provide more stable visual function with a greater range of visual demands. You might find it easier to perform at a high level in various environments if you have LASIK. Such stability is often valuable to endurance athletes and those who participate in outdoor activities.
Things to Consider Before LASIK Surgery
Even with the possible advantages of LASIK, it’s not a silver bullet remedy for everyone. There are many factors involved. It’s very important to have a consultation with an eye care professional to see if you can have the LASIK procedure performed successfully.
LASIK surgery can be a great assistance to athletes who want to enjoy improved vision while engaging in their specific sports. But while the vision correction procedure may be the solution athletes need to reach peak performance, LASIK isn’t for everyone.
You should speak to a LASIK surgeon at a reputable eye care clinic for a consultation so you can find out whether you’re a suitable candidate.