I participated in a nationwide radio tour today to discuss the connection between vision and the sport of cycling, in anticipation of the largest professional cycling event in the US called the Tour of California (http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/), where Team Garmin-Transitions will compete*.

In both amateur and professional cycling, the body does most of the work, but the eyes lead the body and tell it what to do. Keeping in mind the following can give you a competitive edge, whether you are participating in a professional race or going for a leisurely bike ride with your family:

1. Peripheral vision
2. Depth and distance perception
3. Contrast
4. Eye Movement
5. Balance

Peripheral vision, also known as side vision, actually goes into the brain 25% faster than central vision, which is the line of vision you use to read eye charts. Peripheral vision helps to guide you through the pack and see other riders as they try to pass you. When you squint, you reduce your peripheral vision and increase the number of eye and head movements you make. Squinting can negatively affect your balance and speed.

Each of your eyes has six muscles that move in concert with the other eye. Keeping your eyes relaxed helps reduce eye fatigue, so you can see changes in the road or trail surface and avoid erratic eye movements which can slow you down and throw you off balance. Nerve messages from the eyes also go to the balancing centers in the brain. You can easily understand how this works with a simple test of standing on one leg with your eyes closed to experience how your balance can be impacted.

Quality eyesight is critical for all outdoor sports enthusiasts, whether you’re professional cyclists in a race, amateur riders on the trail or spectators cheering from the crowd. Vision can be enhanced and protected today and tomorrow by regular visits to your eye doctor and chosing eyewear that is most appropriate for your lifestyle and the activities in which you participate. 

For those who enjoy being active outdoors, wearing adaptive lenses, such as Transitions® lenses – that automatically adjust the level of darkness as light conditions change – help to reduce glare and fatigue, so you can perform your best. Transitions block 100% of harmful UV rays, so your vision is protected from the effects of ongoing sun exposure.   Take it from the professional cyclists of Team Garmin-Transitions who train and race hundreds of miles each day while wearing their Transitions – proper eyewear is essential to optimal vision and sports performance.

Tune in to Versus May 16-23 to see Team Garmin-Transitions sprint to the finish line of the Tour of California.

* Note:  I am not affiliated with Team Garmin-Transitions as a doctor or trainer. I’m an optometric consultant to Transitions, who sponsors the team. My role is to help communicate to consumers the connection between vision and sports performance and the importance of proper eyecare and eyewear as a means of ensuring healthy sight.

One of our latest efforts to educate consumers about the connection between healthy sight and athletic performance involves the sponsorship of the American-based pro cycling Team Garmin-Transitions, which will train and compete in the US and around the world wearing Transitions adaptive eyewear.  Check out Team Garmin-Transitions in the upcoming Amgen Tour of California, America’s largest cycling race, May 16-23.

We’ve fitted the riders with Transitions lenses, in an effort to enhance their vision so they can accurately navigate the terrain and overcome obstacles such as changing light conditions, eye fatigue and glare as they race across hundreds of miles every day. Plus, Transitions lenses block 100% of UV rays, so the riders can protect the long-term health of their eyes as well.

This is an exciting venture for us, one that reflects not only the importance of quality sight in terms of sports performance, but also reinforces its role as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. For all outdoor sports enthusiasts—whether you’re a professional cyclist, enjoying a leisurely bike ride or a spectator cheering from the crowd—having the right eyewear can make for a more comfortable outdoor experience and help preserve your eyesight for a lifetime.

To follow the latest updates from the riders of Team Garmin-Transitions, visit www.slipstreamsports.com.

Check back often for more news about Transitions and the impact of vision on cycling. Be sure to tune into Versus to cheer on Team Garmin-Transitions in the Tour of California, which kicks off Sunday!