Visual Skills Prediction of college-level athletic success

Background: The main objective of this study was to determine if specific visual attributes can be used to predict success in athletes at the collegiate level. Methods: A total of 28 collegiate softball players’ visual skills were assessed through testing binocular visual acuity at distance and near, dynamic visual acuity, distance and near phoric posture, and depth perception of the athletes. The success of the athletes was then evaluated through analysis of a coach’s survey that provided information about the athletes’ skill levels and objective performance in specific areas. This information allowed for a comparison between skill level and visual attributes. Results: Our results indicated that there were specific attributes that showed a statistically significant positive correlation which were leadership with depth perception, attitude with near visual acuity, athletic ability with distance phoria, and promise for the future with dynamic visual low RPM accuracy. Conclusion: The data that was gleaned from this study provides information on how each visual attribute may affect various aspects of a sport, as well as information that can be used to care for patients who participate in athletics and want to improve their athletic skills by participating in sports vision therapy. Sports vision research is an area that continues to grow and thrive. This study provides optometrists additional information which can be used to hone in on the visual skills that are most beneficial for their sports vision patients.