At HMD Opticians we want to help you with all aspects of your vision, including your sporting needs.
Reflexes must be fast and the skier's eyes true. There is no doubt that by improving your visual skills you can improve your performance. Visual skills affect the skier's reaction time, balance, eye/hand/body coordination - all those skills that can make the difference between a good and a great run.

Unless a skier can see clearly and shift visual gaze rapidly and smoothly from near-to-far and distant-to-close - and detect changes in the terrain and snow conditions, often under adverse weather conditions - he/she will be slow to react and will lose valuable time or be more prone to injury.  Some of the things a SportVision assessment can examine are:

1.  
2. Ability to see stationary objects.
3. Ability to keep objects in focus at speed.
4. Accuracy of Depth and distance judgments.
5. Eye movement speed.
6. Ability to see in different light levels..

All of these can be approved with specific SportVision Training, available from HMD Opticians. (From £60 to include testing and set up of training programme)
However, below are some multipurpose exercises you can perform at home to improve your visual skills. Do two or three of these exercises for a total time of 20 minutes three times a week. You may feel some eye strain, but no pain.

One way to speed up your focusing ability is to practice changing focus between your computer screen and a picture hanging on the wall across the room, or a scene outside the window.Do this for 5 mins, rest and repeat using a different target.

Ever try to put the cap on a pen and miss? Practicing this at arm's length is one way to improve your depth perception. Another is to hold a cocktail stick at arm's length and place it into a drinking straw.
On the move: While a passenger in a car or while walking briskly, hold your head steady and try to read road signs, license plates, etc., on your far right or left, without moving your head or eyes. Do for five minutes, rest five minutes and repeat.

Why not think about starting an exercise program to improve your visual performance skills and strengthen your eye muscles. You'll SEE the difference on the slopes.

Contact: Alan Macdonald-Sportvision Diploma Holder