Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Vision important to sports enthusiasts

Active baby boomers, many of whom are shifting from team sports to individual sports such as golf, still have vision demands which may differ from their everyday activities.

"Statistically, the baby boomer generation is becoming presbyopic in greater numbers than any other population," says Dr. Paul Ajamian, president of the Georgia Optometric Association. "In other words, people who have never worn glasses before suddenly find themselves contemplating the choices."

Presbyopia is a condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye loses its flexibility. "The result is progressive difficulty in focusing on close objects," explains Dr. Ajamian.

Presbyopia is not preventable; it's simply part of the aging process. For many "graying" athletes this can be an adjustment process. Most athletes under these circumstances have to accept a certain compromise in vision.

"Unfortunately, depending on the sport, bifocal glasses can make intermediate range hand-eye coordination difficult" says Dr. Ajamian. "In addition, glasses in general can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, impractical. Fortunately, in the past five years, contact lens treatment options have increased significantly."

For bifocal contact lens wearers, there are a variety of design options in soft lenses, gas permeable lenses and specialty designs for astigmatism.

"Vision correction should be part of one's sporting equipment," suggests Ajamian. "As performance goes, it's as important as wearing the right clothing, using the right clubs or wearing the right shoes. It's another way to enhance the game.

"Each sport has different vision requirements. And now, all athletes have a variety of options. No matter what the sport, from ballroom dancing to tennis or golf, your optometrist can recommend the best vision equipment for the best results. And, you don't have to be ranked number one in the country to be an athlete. If you participate in a sport, you are an athlete."