Laser Eye Surgery for Athletes - What You Need to Know

An athlete with a full heart and clear eyes is hard to beat. Clear vision is a fundamental component of peak athletic performance. The athlete must be able to see what they are doing clearly and accurately to succeed.

Better vision for athletes means they will be more alert to their surroundings. It may also improve their reaction time, and athletes whose sports require pinpoint accuracy, such as darts, golf or basketball, will all benefit from crystal clear vision.

Common Problems Faced by Athletes Due to Bad Vision

Athletes must protect their eyes with eye goggles, visors, helmets, or other protective gear before engaging in sports.

They may also get injured while playing a contact sport. They may get dust, debris, ice, and other particles in their eyes. An athlete may also suffer from cataracts, which may make their vision appear cloudy or blurry.

Left untreated, cataracts may lead to complete blindness. Diabetic retinopathy may cause the retina to swell, which leads to pressure and pain in the eye region. Athletes may also have to deal with floaters, flashers, and blurring that will make it impossible to train, let alone compete effectively.

Macular degeneration is also something that many people will face as they age. However, it can be especially troublesome for an athlete as it negatively impacts central vision.

The athlete may not even be able to read and may have trouble recognizing faces, which is a serious problem if the athlete is part of a team. The optic nerve may also be damaged by an accumulation of fluid that causes great pressure.

The athlete’s peripheral vision will be impacted by glaucoma, and their central vision will also take a serious hit unless doctors can intervene in time.

If you are an athlete and have noticed sudden changes in your vision, please see an optometrist or a LASIK eye surgeon. Any blurriness, scars, red marks, cloudiness, and swelling should not be ignored.

If you are having trouble reading, driving, or recognizing faces, or if you have noticed any leakage, pain, pressure, dizziness, headaches, eye strain, or eye itchiness, you may have a serious eye condition or infection.

What Athletes Should Know About LASIK

It should be noted that LASIK is designed to correct your vision to the level of your existing prescription. LASIK may not be the best option for all athletes either. PRK surgery may be better for athletes who engage in contact sports.

The surface of the cornea is reshaped during PRK. No flap is created during PRK. LASIK involves creating a corneal flap, which may become disrupted if exposed to sufficient force.

Recovery times will also vary. If you enjoy cycling, baseball, or other low-contact sports, then you should be able to return to the action in about seven days. PRK patients may need a few weeks to regain clear vision.

Temporary side effects, such as induced glare, may occur. Dry eyes may last a few months but can be treated easily with artificial tears. Your peripheral vision may also be impacted.

During athletic games, you may also hold back if you are worried that your glasses could get damaged. Sweat and dirt can also impede your vision if you wear contacts or glasses. LASIK eliminates such issues, which may help augment your overall performance.

As can be seen, LASIK procedures have many benefits.

How LASIK Surgery Can Help Athletes Perform at their Best

Your athletic performance will be improved when contact lenses or eyeglasses do not hold you back. Clear vision will allow you to focus on the game, boost your concentration and focus, and improve your hand-eye coordination.

The recovery time of LASIK is also quick, thanks to recent advances. In most cases, you should be able to return to doing what you love in one to two weeks.

LASIK is a refractive surgical procedure that uses laser light to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Closing Thoughts

LASIK allows athletes to perform at their best without wearing eyeglasses or contacts. Results may be permanent, and it is a safe, reliable, painless, and economical procedure performed in less than an hour.

However, you must be a suitable candidate for the procedure. If you suffer from chronic dry eyes, have a pre-existing medical condition, are pregnant, or have very thin corneas, you may not be eligible for LASIK.

Sources:

How LASIK can enhance your vision – Eye Care Institute (see-eci.com)

LASIK Eye Surgery for Athletes: What To Know About Laser Eye Surgery (uofmhealth.org)

5 Vision Problems and How to Prevent Them – Cleveland Clinic