Are you struggling with your jump shot? Missing more putts than usual? Or maybe you’re dropping the ball too often while playing catch? If you’re an athlete dealing with these frustrations, you may need more than just practice—you might benefit from Vision Therapy.
Vision Therapy, offered by Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, an optometrist in Versailles, KY, could be the key to unlocking your full athletic potential. It’s not just about getting glasses or contacts; it’s about enhancing your visual skills, which play a crucial role in sports performance.
Why Vision Matters in Sports
Vision isn’t just about seeing clearly. In fact, many athletes with 20/20 vision can still struggle with sports because they haven’t trained their eyes to perform key tasks. Dr. Graebe, a sports vision doctor with a rich athletic background, explains: “We can’t necessarily make an athlete great, but we can ensure that vision is not limiting their athletic performance.”
Some of the visual skills that can make or break an athlete include:
- Eye-hand coordination: This is critical for sports like baseball, softball, and tennis, where timing is everything. Dr. Graebe explains that “coordination starts with the visual system and then moves to the hands.”
- Peripheral vision: Athletes in dynamic sports like basketball or soccer need to be aware of what’s happening outside their direct line of sight.
- Depth perception: Judging distances accurately is essential in nearly every sport, from hitting a baseball to gauging the distance to the basket in basketball.
- Dynamic acuity: This helps athletes focus on moving objects while they’re also in motion—whether that’s a football, a tennis ball, or a gymnast spinning in mid-air.
Vision Therapy for Different Sports
Whether you’re playing football, golf, or gymnastics, Vision Therapy can help improve specific skills:
- Football, Basketball, and Soccer: These sports demand visual adaptation, or the ability to stabilize your body while your eyes track fast-moving objects. Vision Therapy helps athletes improve their depth perception, dynamic acuity, and the ability to focus on the ball while moving.
- Baseball and Softball: In these sports, the ability to switch between “soft focus” on the pitcher and “hard focus” on the ball is crucial. Vision Therapy can train hitters to better time their swings by improving these focusing skills.
- Gymnastics, Cheerleading, and Dance: These athletes rely on excellent visual adaptation and spatial awareness to move confidently and safely through complex routines.
Even golfers, who might not seem to require fast-paced vision, benefit from Vision Therapy. Take PGA champion Nick Faldo, for instance. After undergoing Vision Therapy, Faldo discovered he was left-eye dominant, a detail that had been affecting his putting. With this newfound awareness, he improved his game significantly, eventually winning the Masters Tournament.
Vision Therapy Success Story: Helping Local Athletes Shine
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, we’ve seen firsthand how Vision Therapy can change the game for young athletes. Recently, a basketball player from Danville, KY, came to our clinic because she couldn’t seem to improve her jump shot despite hours of practice. After a comprehensive visual evaluation, we identified issues with her depth perception and dynamic acuity. After just a few months of therapy, her shot accuracy improved, and she earned a starting position on her high school team.
Dr. Graebe explains: “We can help make the difference between making the team or not, sitting the bench or not, or even winning a scholarship or not.”
Improve Your Game with Vision Therapy
If you or your child are struggling with sports performance despite having 20/20 vision, it may be time to consider Vision Therapy. At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, located in Versailles, KY, we serve athletes from across the greater Lexington area and Southern Kentucky.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, call 859-879-0089 today. Whether you’re aiming for the big leagues or just trying to improve your game, Vision Therapy could be the key to unlocking your full potential.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.