If you want to be good at sports, you have to sharpen your skills, master the movements, and practice until you’re able to perform them automatically. But did you know proper eye care can also make you a stronger player? At Family Vision Center, one of the oldest and largest family eye care practices in Bridgeport, CT, the optometrists are committed to helping athletes see clearly on and off the field.

If you want to get better at dunking basketballs or hitting home runs, here are three eye care skills you can practice at home:

• Stretch Your Vision: Just like any other muscle in the body, your eyes need to stretch. To improve your focus and flexibility, practice looking up from your computer and focusing on a picture on the wall across the room. Not only does this relieve eye strain, but it also makes it easier for you change focus from a faraway object to a close one on the baseball field.
• Play A Visual Memory Game: Having a strong visual memory is a key skill for people who want to excel at sports. One way to improve this aspect of your vision is to practice memory games. The faster your brain can correctly recall the characteristics of a given object or form, the easier it will be for you to remember where your fellow teammates are on the field when you’re throwing a pass.
• Give A Sidelong Glance: Your peripheral vision is what you can see on the side when you’re looking straight ahead. The better your peripheral awareness, the more likely you’ll see the opponent who is charging at you on the football field. To improve your peripheral vision, try looking at the TV with your head turned to one side and seeing what details you can register. Practice on both sides of your head.

In addition to these vision training exercises, always wear proper protective eye gear when playing sports. Ask the eye doctors at Family Vision Center for advice about special eyewear, such as sports safety goggles and performance-enhancing lens tints. For more information about the eye care center, visit their website or call the optometrists at (203) 333-2020.