Politics
Ahad Mahootchi: Winning on field begins with eye exams off field
As Summer winds down and families prepare for a new school year, many young athletes are also getting ready for football season. They’re busy honing their skills at practice and enduring strenuous conditioning workouts to make sure they’re ready for kickoff. But there’s one important part of preseason preparation that too often gets overlooked: a comprehensive eye exam.
As an ophthalmologist, I’ve seen how healthy vision can make a meaningful difference not just in the classroom but also on the football field. Parents often think about strength, speed and agility when they think about success on the field, but clear, healthy vision is just as essential to helping young athletes perform safely and confidently.
Football is a fast-paced game that demands exceptional visual skills. Whether it’s a quarterback reading the defense, a receiver tracking a pass over their shoulder or a linebacker reacting to a developing play, vision is at the center of nearly every moment on the field.
Unfortunately, not every child starts the season with the visual abilities they need.
Conditions like amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” are among the leading causes of vision impairment in children. Amblyopia develops when one eye doesn’t form a strong connection with the brain, causing the brain to favor the stronger eye. Without treatment, the weaker eye can fail to develop normal vision, leading to permanent vision loss.
For young football players, that can have real consequences.
Depth perception, peripheral awareness, ball tracking and reaction time all contribute to a player’s ability to compete. A child with undiagnosed amblyopia or another vision problem may struggle on the field, making them assume they’re not as coordinated or athletic as their peers when, in reality, an underlying vision issue is limiting their performance.
One of the biggest challenges is that many childhood eye conditions develop without obvious warning signs. Children rarely complain when their vision isn’t normal because they’ve never experienced anything different. Standard vision screenings performed at school or during sports physicals can identify some concerns, but they aren’t a substitute for a comprehensive eye examination.
That’s why I encourage families to schedule an eye exam before the school year and fall sports season begin.
Early detection gives children the best opportunity for successful treatment. Whether it’s prescribing glasses, treating amblyopia with patching or medicated eye drops, or identifying another vision condition, addressing problems early can improve visual development and help young athletes participate with greater confidence both on and off the field.
The benefits also extend well beyond football. Healthy vision supports academic success, confidence, independence and long-term quality of life.
As parents check off back-to-school shopping lists and prepare for another exciting football season, don’t forget to include your child’s vision. An annual comprehensive eye exam is one of the simplest steps you can take to protect both their eyesight and their potential.
This fall, let’s remember that every successful play begins with seeing the field clearly. As part of this effort to encourage eye screenings for children, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and its charitable arm, the For Eye Care Foundation, are recognizing August as Amblyopia Awareness Month. I urge all parents to learn more about amblyopia and make an eye appointment with a local ophthalmologist to ensure your child’s clear vision leads to a clear victory on the field.
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Ahad Mahootchi, MD, is a Zephyrhills-based ophthalmologist and president of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.
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