Vision and sport: see better, play better

In sport, vision helps you locate the ball, judge distances, follow opponents and guide movement. An uncorrected visual limitation can affect accuracy, comfort and the ability to meet the demands of the sport, even when athletes feel that they see well.

Assessing more than your prescription

Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism can reduce clarity or increase visual effort. Difficulties with focusing or coordination between the two eyes can also affect depth perception and cause fatigue, headaches or double vision.

An optometric assessment evaluates your prescription and abilities such as focusing, binocular coordination and eye movements. An ophthalmological assessment examines eye health, identifies disease and determines whether medical or surgical treatment is needed. These complementary assessments are guided by each athlete’s needs.

A solution suited to your sport

The visual demands of tennis, cycling and swimming differ. Assessment should consider viewing distances, the speed of objects, lighting and the equipment used.

Correction may involve prescription sports glasses or contact lenses, selected according to the sport, comfort and safety. Where indicated, treating ocular surface conditions or other eye problems can also help make vision more stable.

The aim is to reduce avoidable visual limitations and help athletes make better use of their abilities in training and competition.

Can vision be trained?

In selected cases, exercises targeting specific focusing or binocular coordination problems may be useful. Sports vision and perceptual training programmes also exist, with promising results in some tasks.

However, improving on a visual exercise does not guarantee an equivalent improvement in competition. Any programme should be individually indicated, with specific goals and assessment of results, and integrated into training for the sport.

Protection is part of performance too

In sports with a risk of impact, appropriate eye protection is important. Ordinary glasses and contact lenses do not replace protective sports eyewear.

Looking after vision is part of an athlete’s preparation. Assessment and correction are tailored to eye parameters, individual characteristics and the demands of the sport, to support each athlete’s best performance with comfort and safety.

This information does not replace an individual medical assessment. Follow the advice of the team looking after you.

Dr. Nuno Lopes · Patient information
Editorial presentation updated on 27 October 2026. Your team's individual instructions take priority.