Laser Eye Surgery To Improve Sports Performance
The Right Vision Correction Choice For Sportsmen And Women
Golf, football, cricket, tennis … currently there is a veritable overload of high definition sport to enjoy without having to move off the sofa … and this is before the Olympic fanfare begins.
Suddenly we have all become armchair experts discussing tactics and techniques with as much authority as the professional pundits. But while football fans might have an opinion on how play can be improved and which players should be included or excluded from their national team, I believe tennis followers are in agreement that tournaments this season have never been more thrilling as the countdown to Wimbledon begins.
We marvel at the players’ strength and stamina as they cover the court playing each and every point as if the match depended on it – which of course it might. And who can fail but to be impressed by the hand eye coordination that accompanies winning lobs, drop shots, volleys and those bullet-like serves? When these memorable rallies are examined in slow motion they appear – if possible -more awe inspiring; and even the linesmen and women deserve our grudging respect when their “in” or “out” calls are correct. Arguably more can ride on a fraction of a millimetre in tennis than in any other sport. Thank goodness for the technology that now pushes the responsibility of those borderline decisions onto Hawkeye, removing countless potential arguments and resulting stress and unpleasantness from the chemistry of the tournament.
It is perhaps unusual to note that – in the midst of the gods and goddesses of tennis who are poised to entertain and thrill us throughout Wimbledon fortnight – the World Number 1 and defending champion does not have perfect vision. Yes, many tennis fans might be surprised to know that Novak Djokovic wears contact lenses on court and frequently uses glasses at other times.
What is perhaps even more surprising is that he has been able to achieve and maintain his top world ranking position despite suffering the same inconvenience with his lenses as everyone else. The 25-year-old Serb had problems with his lenses at the ATP World Tour Finals in November 2010 at the O2 Arena in London (facing Rafael Nadal), Djokovic was forced to call “time out” after his right eye became so irritated that it was affecting his play. He ran off to the locker room to get another pair of contacts, but even these clearly bothered him for the rest of the match which he lost in straight sets.
“I really feel sick talking about it”, he said afterwards. “It has never happened to me before. My right eye got irritated, and from the five-all I could not play. I could not see the ball, especially the return. It was just terrible!”
It highlights how important it is for sportsmen and women to make the right vision correction choice. Off court, Djokovic appears comfortable in glasses however this would be an impractical option while playing competitive tennis as the majority of tournaments are played outdoors where weather factors could be a problem along with the risk of them slipping during a physically demanding rally.
Fellow Serbian, JankoTipsarevic, is the only world ranked player who wears prescription glasses to play competitively.
Perhaps, in addition to a rigorous training schedule ahead of Wimbledon, Djokovic might take time out to consider the benefits of Laser Eye Surgery before the next tennis season. But for this year, the champion can at least take some comfort knowing that Wimbledon centre court has a roof should it start raining and that Hawkeye is on hand to adjudicate any close line calls.
