Preliminary Pages

1Elite Sports and Vision: (An Introduction to Implications of Vision in Sports)

2Elite Sports and Vision: (An Introduction to Implications of Vision in Sports)

Ajay Kumar Bhootra DOS, FAO, FOAI, FCLI (Aligarh) ICLEP (Hyderabad) Diploma in Sportvision (UK) Dr Sumitra BHMS, DMBS, MD, DOS B.Optom, Diploma in Sportvision (UK)

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Elite Sports and Vision

All rights reserved. No part of this publication should be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the authors and the publisher.

First Edition: 2008

9788184483567

Typeset at JPBMP typesetting unit

Printed at

A Token of Respect to Mr Geraint Griffiths

Geraint Griffiths is the founder and chief executive officer of the Association of Sportvision Practitioners. He is the author of the Diploma in Sportvision Practice, which all the members of the association have to complete. He is British College of Optometrists examiner and assessor and former British international athlete. He is managing director of Sportvision Ltd which is the executive body of Sportvision, UK which incorporates the association of Sportvision Practitioners. Today he is one of the most senior researchers in the field of sportvision.

5Preface

Vision has enormous implications in terms of health and welfare of the nation. Research has shown us in sports that even small visual deficiency in one eye can ruin the game of the athletes. Even more important the same problem can substantially effect everybody's ability to carry out their chosen occupations. Straightforward implication of this is that occupational success relies on visual efficiency, but vision is very much more important in general terms, because the ability to work efficiently or competing the sport at the highest level is directly related to our vision. Problems with the visual process that are not explained and understood can have profound implications for the athletes and their immediate family and friends. There was no debate about the protection of the eyes from trauma and non-ionizing radiations. But the biggest challenge was to establish the strong scientific basis for understanding the implications of vision in sports. Therefore, researchers established the science of Sportvision in the field of behavioral optometry.

Originally originated in USA, the science actually started to develop in UK under the leadership of Mr Geraint Griffiths since 1994. At the outset, practice began to develop the work already started in USA. But the new researches have given the science a dynamic shape. In India, the science started to flourish at the Himalaya Optical Group where Ajay Kr Bhootra, Optometrist, Ocularist and Diploma in Sportvision (UK) and his colleague Dr Sumitra, BHMS, DMBS, MD, DOS, B.Optom, and Diploma in Sportvision (UK) worked together to explore the implications of sportvision in the field of optometry. The vision in sports has an immediate application to the athletes and in a country that is going through an industrial revolution, it is essential that young talent is not disadvantaged by visual deficiencies. Loss of sporting or occupational performance at any level in society affects general health which ultimately will conspire to decrease the quality of life and life expectancy.

This book is a small effort to reveal the importance of vision in sports and sporting performance of the athletes and is intended for all those who are interested in sports and vision. These may include eyecare professionals including optometrists and ophthalmologists and sports medicine 6practitioners, sports coaches team managers, sports clubs, sports associations, athletes, players and all those parents who want their kids to excel in sports. The authors do not claim it to be a comprehensive book to include complete information on sportvision practice. It is just an effort to appreciate the immediate need for basic information on the importance of vision in sports as the sports today is no more a recreational activity only. It has become one of the biggest industries where millions of dollars are involved in the form of fees, prizes, advertisements and sponsorships. It is intended that this book will fulfill basic educational requirements, stimulate people's interest in sportvision and provide a reference source. The science of sportvision is still new and the results of many researches will follow. Ideas about the role of vision in different sports may vary depending upon the level of sports and accessibility to the new researches. Hence, readers are strongly encouraged to keep themselves up-to-date and help establish the science of sportvision as an accepted discipline by providing us their opinions.

Ajay Kumar Bhootra

Dr Sumitra

7Acknowledgements

Acknowledging the support and motivation received expresses a deep sense of respect and gratitude towards the respective person who contributed and supported in different ways. It is their committed faith and enthusiasm that made it possible for us to work on developing the new science of sportvision. We would like to acknowledge and extend our heartfelt gratitude to following individuals who all are established personalities in their respective fields:

Mr Shyam Sundar Binani

Mr Sudarshan Binani

Mr Sarat Binani

Mr Sandeep Binani.

Dr Arun Kumar Aggarwala

It would be a great injustice and ungratefulness if we do not acknowledge the support of our parents and family from whom we were away for so long during our course work. Thanks to all our family members for providing us moral and mental boost.

Chapter Notes