If you have poor eyesight, LASIK eye surgery is most likely something you’ve considered. Although this popular procedure can help just about anyone who would like to improve their vision, LASIK can be especially beneficial for athletes. Here, we’ll take a look at why you should consider undergoing LASIK eye surgery if you’re a sports enthusiast.
Improved Reaction Time
One major benefit of LASIK for athletes is that it can greatly improve reaction time, which can be useful for a wide variety of sports. With the visual acuity improvements offered by LASIK, it will be much easier to track a baseball as a hitter, return a tennis serve, or block a speeding kick as a soccer goalie. Although you may not realize it’s happening, your vision issues could be currently slowing down your reaction time and worsening your overall athletic performance.
Enhanced Depth Perception
LASIK eye surgery can also be effective for improving your depth perception. If you’re unfamiliar, depth perception is the ability to see the relative distance of objects. When you have poor vision, your depth perception can be quite inaccurate. If you play any sports that involve catching or hitting a ball, enhanced depth perception should make a noticeable difference in your abilities.
Ability to See at Night
Another benefit of LASIK eye surgery is that it can significantly improve your vision at night. Many sports are regularly played outside at night, including baseball, football, and soccer, and if you have vision problems, it can be extremely difficult to perform. After undergoing LASIK, you should find that your vision is quite a bit sharper when playing sports outside at night or in dimly lit settings.
Added Convenience
If you regularly partake in sporting events, having to wear glasses and even contact lenses can present certain challenges. For example, if you’re playing a sport where you have to wear a helmet or goggles, your glasses will be a major obstacle. Even with contact lenses, dealing with sweat and dirt can potentially pose real problems. If a little bit of dirt gets into your lens, you may have to remove it, and if you depend on your contacts for vision, that could take you out of the game. LASIK eye surgery will remove the need for glasses or contacts when engaging in athletic activities, which can improve your performance and make the overall experience much easier.
Reduced Glare
Although many people don’t realize it, LASIK eye surgery can help reduce glare and light halos in your vision. If you play sports in bright sunlight or at night under bright lights, being temporarily blinded by the glare can become a regular issue. With successful LASIK, this problem should be significantly reduced, so you shouldn’t have to worry about missing any more fly balls or passes due to intense glare.
What Is the Takeaway?
If you’re an athlete dealing with poor eyesight, LASIK eye surgery could offer various benefits that you have never considered. In addition to improving your day-to-day quality of life, the treatment may help you reach your true potential in your sport(s) of choice. If you’re interested in undergoing LASIK, contact us at Pacific Vision Institute today to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled ophthalmologists.