CLINICAL

  SPORTS VISION

COVER ALL THE BASES

FOLLOW THESE PLAYS TO GIVE YOUR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PLAYERS OPTIMAL VISION

KEVIN GEE, O.D.

BASEBALL IS considered a high-velocity sport with a small object making contact at, sometimes, an immeasurable speed. As such, excellent vision is paramount to baseball players. Here, I discuss how best to treat these athletes.

CORRECTION

Whereas many of our non-baseball patients may not be bothered by a minor astigmatic refractive error, a baseball player usually appreciates a correction. This can provide a sharp point of focus when, for instance, a high velocity, rotating baseball is approaching. For example, a patient with -0.75 cyl is usually fine with a spherical equivalent. For a baseball player, I would correct it. But, keep in mind that doing so may pose a fitting problem with oblique cyl or even cyl less than that available in soft lenses. In these cases, I prescribe hybrid or scleral lenses.

CONTRAST

As the ability to catch a baseball in the sky and hit a pitch is essential to baseball, recommend a rose or high-intensity yellow tint to facilitate contrast identification. Tints should accentuate the red seams on a ball, or make the background denser so the ball (white in baseball, mostly yellow in softball) “pops” off the background.

This can be achieved with contact lenses or sunglasses.

CARE

Look for the silver lining when speaking with these athletes. For example, take an athlete who comes in because he cannot see the spin or seam orientation on the ball. First, exhaust all possible causes other than skill. Could it be that he has a minor uncorrected refractive error? Could it be an irregular corneal surface that requires a GP lens? Could it be tear film related? Whichever of these causes it may turn out to be, highlight the positives for the services that you can provide to him.

CONDITION

Before initiating any training protocol for athletes, it is essential and mandatory for me to establish optimal vision. After that has been established it opens the opportunity for hand-eye coordination exercises, speed of reaction testing and a multitude of vision enhancement training.

THE PITCH

“Batters have a matter of milliseconds to decide whether to swing or not,” says Bill Firkus, director of sports medicine and performance, baseball operations, Houston Astros. “Since vision plays such a critical role in a batter’s success, we work with our partners to ensure that our hitters are put in the best position possible to succeed.”

Offer your athletes their best chances at success. OM

DR. GEE practices in Houston and is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, an ABO Diplomate and an OCRT member. Also, he’s on Allergan’s advisory board and is a consultant for Weave Communications. Email him at drgee@geeeyecare.com, or visit tinyurl.com/comment to comment.