Sports Vision at iCare

The "Optometrist Near You" solution in Alberton


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As an athlete you may keep a constant eye on your weight, cardiac health, strength and flexibility, but what about vision?

Sport Vision

Superior vision skills are just as important to an athlete’s success as strong muscles. Athletes have to be able to process visual information very quickly so that they can respond to it. The great news is that, like muscles, some visual skills can be improved with practice.


What Visual Skills do we test for Athletes?

Here are some of the most essential visual skills that help athletes perform at the top of their game:

·      Colour vision

·      Depth perception

·      Dynamic visual acuity

·      Eye tracking

·      Eye-hand-body coordination

·      Peripheral vision

·      Visual concentration

·      Visual reaction time

·      Visualisation

·      Visual memory

Driver’s Screening

This service is free of charge to our existing patients

Vision screenings are basic eye tests that help identify whether you have any problem with your vision, but does not test for eye diseases or the underlying causes for any vision problem you may have. Driver vision screening is generally used to determine whether your vision is sufficient for driving in order to get or renew your driver’s licence.
The vision test is usually a set of simple vision tests and assessments such as:


  • Testing your vision using the "Big E" or "Snellen" chart
  • Testing your eye's reaction to light and muscle coordination using simple charts or following a light to test your reactions

BEST SPECTACLES FOR SPORTS


If you wear prescription lenses and enjoy outdoor activities, it pays to know what kind of lenses are best suited to you – both in terms of comfort and usability. This includes understanding why one needs lenses that are better suited for outdoor use versus indoors and whether or not there are specific lens types designed for vigorous sports and outdoor wear.


WHY DO YOU NEED SPECTACLES FOR SPORTS?

Having to wear prescription lenses should in no way put limitations on the type of active lifestyle you choose to lead. But you should educate yourself on the best types of lenses available – not just to aid your vision but to also keep your eyes protected when being active outdoors. Playing sports while wearing spectacles can lead to serious eye injury. For example, roughly 42,000 sport- and recreational-related eye injuries are reported annually in America, with more than 70 percent of those being in people under the age of 25 - and furthermore, 40 percent of those were people under the age of 15. Being properly fitted for sports eyewear can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a part of these statistics.

Safety is just one of the reasons selecting the proper spectacles for playing sports is so important; the other reason being UV protection. The majority of frames that are suitable for playing sports will support UV protective lenses and can be customised to provide the wearer with the flexibility needed to move freely while enjoying their sport of choice. Having the confidence that comes with the proper eye protection will more than likely enhance your overall performance.

PROTECTING YOUR EYES FROM PHYSICAL HARM


To protect your eyes when playing contact sports, it is important to use the proper gear. These include goggles, eye shields and even face masks. Goggles are useful when swimming and can even come with prescriptions for clear vision while underwater.

Face masks are usually metal or hard fibre cages that protect all or part of your face. These are not commonly used outside of organised sporting events, as they are not necessary. Cricketers use face masks as part of their helmets when batting or fielding close to the batsmen. These protect your head and face from blows from the hard cricket ball.


An easier and more affordable option for complete protection would be eye shields. These polycarbonate shields are usually impact-resistant and protect the wearer from blows to the eye during contact sports or ball sports like baseball or hockey.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LENSES FOR SPORTS

Besides protective goggles and eye-shield, there are two types of lenses or coatings to consider when purchasing spectacles for sports or outdoor activities are:


For those looking for complete protection, it is possible to protect your lenses with multiple coatings to ensure high quality vision the whole time, while maintaining your spectacles for a longer time.

Remember that these lenses can be fitted to frames of your choosing, so select frames that give you flexibility as well as style (should that be of concern) and will work with the outdoor lenses that best suit your sporting activity.


For more information on being properly fitted for sports eyewear, visit your local eye care professional.


Glasses & Contact lenses

testing, instruction & fitting

Glasses are an important accessory, helping people to see better, while also showing off a unique side to themselves. That’s why choosing the right lenses and frames for your individual needs and lifestyle is important. More than a fashion statement, glasses are your window to the world.
Not only do we cut a selection of lenses while you wait- but we also offer Scleral contact lenses used for pathology, such as after a Corneal transplant.

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To learn more take a look at our frequently asked questions

FAQ