University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

ABOUT
The Sports and Vision Enhancement Service at UIW opened in August 2017 and is run by the UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry (UIWRSO). The service aims to maximize the visual abilities of athletes, which can contribute to achieving an elite level of sport performance. The UIWRSO and UIW Athletics have partnered together to help Cardinal student-athletes reap the benefits of the program.
 
UIW is the only Division I university that has a sports vision service run at this level by its own school of optometry. The service uses state-of-the-art sports vision and training instruments, making the Sports and Vision Enhancement Service a standout among other similar initiatives.
 
Dr. Allison Cronin, chief of the Sports and Vision Enhancement Service, Dr. Amy Ferguson and Dr. Mervyn Bloom are UIWRSO faculty members who are deeply involved in running the service.
 
Prior to the service opening, Drs. Cronin and Ferguson visited the United States Air Force Academy’s Human Performance Service in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to train and study their highly successful human performance program. UIW’s Sports and Vision Enhancement Service is modeled after this lab.
 
THE PROCESS
The Sports and Vision Enhancement Service begins with an evaluative test to determine a baseline of their visual skills. If a visual disorder is present, the student-athlete is referred to the Rosenberg School of Optometry for a comprehensive eye exam to treat the underlying condition.
 
Through the service, a training schedule is created to help enhance the student-athlete’s visual skills pertaining to their specific sport. Training incorporates standard vision therapy skills in a dynamic environment and utilizes innovative equipment specifically designed for sports training. The service designs sport-specific training exercises that enhance visual skills required for student-athletes, including dynamic visual acuity, depth perception, central-peripheral awareness, tracking, visual and motor reaction times, contrast sensitivity, focusing, multiple object tracking, anticipation, decision making in high pressure situations, and eye-hand coordination.
 
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
UIWRSO faculty can provide vision training exercises and regular evaluations that help determine when a student-athlete is ready to return to play after suffering an injury. Vision training skills have been supported by research to not only improve sports performance, but to help reduce the frequency and severity of concussion injuries by improving the student-athlete’s visual awareness, peripheral awareness, decision-making skills and reaction time. The ability to help prevent injuries is just as valuable to the student-athlete as enhancing their overall performance while playing their sport. Thus, sports vision enhancement safeguards a student-athlete’s greatest ability: avail-ability.
 
WHO BENEFITS?
During the academic year, the service works exclusively with UIW student-athletes. Throughout the summer, the program serves youth athletes participating in UIW Youth Sports Camps, allowing them to experience vision training as well.
 
STAFF MEMBERS
The Sports and Vision Enhancement Service is a working and teaching facility that provides optometry interns training and experience in the area of sports vision. UIWRSO faculty members and interns staff the service.
 
The Sports Vision Service also works with UIW’s athletic trainers to help manage and rehabilitate student-athletes who have suffered a concussion.

LOCATION
Located on the Broadway campus, the Sports and Vision Enhancement Service is on the first floor of UIW’s Barshop Natatorium, adjacent to the UIW athletic training room. This allows student-athletes to include visual skills training as part of their regular exercise and fitness program.