Blueprint of an Athlete with Dr. Robin West

S01E04: Sports Vision with Dr. Daniel Laby

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Welcome to Blueprint of an Athlete: Where Science Meets Sports! Host Dr. Robin West, a board-certified orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon, is joined by Dr. Daniel Laby, a leading expert in sports vision whose work has transformed how elite athletes perform.

For over 30 years, Dr. Laby has helped competitors in MLB, the NBA, NHL, and Olympic sports refine their most powerful tool: their vision system. He discusses the science behind the Sports Vision Pyramid and the difference between ophthalmologists and optometrists in this specialized field.

The Visual Demands of Sport

Dr. Laby emphasizes that no sport is played with your eyes closed. He breaks down how visual demands vary:

  • Small, fast targets (baseball, tennis) require high visual acuity. The average MLB player's vision is 20/12—significantly better than the general population's 20/20.
  • Large, slower targets (basketball, soccer) rely more on peripheral vision and spatial awareness.
  • Close contact (boxing, fencing) demands excellent depth perception.
    • The Power of the "Quiet Eye"

    A key takeaway for all athletes is the "Quiet Eye" concept:

    • In golf putting or basketball free throws, maintaining a fixed gaze on the target (or the point of anticipated contact) before, during, and after the action is critical.
    • Dr. Laby's research shows that successful free-throw shooters fixate tightly on the rim, while those who miss have scattered visual patterns.
    • By preventing the brain from initiating an eye movement too early, the Quiet Eye ensures 100% concentration on the motor task, leading to greater accuracy and success.

      • Dr. Laby concludes that wearables and technology (like stroboscopic glasses and eye tracking) are revolutionizing the field, moving testing away from simple eye charts toward dynamic, sport-specific analysis.

      Resources:

      • Sports Vision with Dr. Laby website
      • Sports Vision Pyramid
      • Sports Vision with Dr. Laby YouTube
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        Blueprint of an Athlete with Dr. Robin WestBy Dr. Robin West