Sports Optometry

2 credits (3 ECTS Credits)

Sports Vision

*Photo By Gonzalo Facello From Pexels

Introduction

How can optometrists successfully work with athletes in baseball, tennis, golf, basketball, and virtually every other sport to help them achieve a much higher degree of performance? How can optometrists facilitate recovery from sports related brain injuries and get back to a high degree of performance again? The difference between the average athlete and the superstar is the difference in their visual abilities. This course will teach the participants how to identify the manner in which visual problems impact sports performance and how to diagnose and treat these problems.

Course Structure

The course includes 20 hours of pre-recorded lectures. Each topic is taught in a separate pre-recorded lecture. After viewers have watched 10 hours of the lectures, a live Zoom session will be held with the professor to discuss key topics and answer any questions. A second Zoom session will be held at the end of the course.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the relationship between visual abilities and sports abilities.
  2. Detail how visual scanning can be utilized for control of the ball.
  3. Describe visual training for specific sports
  4. Perform entire testing battery of the modern sports vision, inclyding dynamic testing
  5. Contrast between the testing battery necessary for different types of sports and positions in sport, including offensive vs. defensive types of players.
  6. Contrast between dynamic and static testing, and the advantages and disadvantages of each
  7. Describe how to adapt visual therapy tests such as: Brock String, the space board, tachistoscope testing, the Saccadic Fixator or Binovi Touch, Cheiroscopic tracing, Van Orden Star testing and reaction time, to improve visual function for athletes.

Topics Covered

  • Definition of vision and the visual process and how it relates to performance in sport
  • Demonstration with eye trackers of successful players in various fields of sports
  • The “Quiet Eye” model for basketball and golf
  • Past vs. present sports vision approaches
  • Testing the athlete
  • Case Examples
  • Care of the athlete during the season
  • Prescribing for the athlete
  • VT for the Athlete

Assessment

• Final exam for students seeking academic credit

 

For information about registration, guest lecturers, and dates PRESS HERE

 

For more information:

Please contact: international@hac.ac.il
Program Director: Dr. Liat Gantz
Program Administrator: Ms. Alisa Gania
Department Chairperson: Dr. Hadas Ben-Eli