I did an interview with Bob Bubka for his show  “The “Grill Room” on the XM/Sirius PGA Tour Network and we spoke of many things related to golf and vision, particularly the importance of wearing the right type of lens while out on the course, as well as a few tips to improve your vision and improve your game, regardless of which sport you play. 

The ability to see clearly is key to all sports, and it was great to share with listeners of “The Grill Room” just how relevant it is to the game of golf in particular. While you are out on the course, the light conditions are always changing throughout the day—it may be a bit overcast when you tee off in the morning, but bright and sunny later in the afternoon. And many people –20% of the population, in fact—tell their coaches and trainers that they have trouble seeing the undulations, or changes, in the greens. Eyewear that automatically adjusts to these changing light conditions, such as Transitions lenses, can ensure that your eyes are always comfortable during the game and help improve your ability to correctly diagnose how each putt should be made.

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You know it’s been a week since I got home from the Transitions Championship and every year I reflect on things that have impacted me at the Championship.  This year, two things really stood out to me.  First of all, the overall consumer awareness message that we focused on throughout the week is one that applies to everybody – both golfers and spectators.  Our main goal was to educate consumers at the tournament and viewers watching the tournament how healthy sight positively impacts everyone’s life, whether it be through sports performance, school performance, or everyday activities.  Many consumers at the tournament were not aware that 50 percent of all blindness is preventable if folks would just get regular eye exams and wear UV- protective eyewear.  It was amazing to see how many spectators visited the Transitions Sun Protection Stations around the course to lather up with sunscreen and learn why it’s just as important to protect the eyes, as it is to protect the skin.   Secondly, having so many partners from the optical industry present during the tournament really helped to reinforce the connection between vision and golf.  In comparison to other title sponsors on TOUR, Transitions’ partnership and message goes beyond the golf arena and reaches a much broader audience.  So many spectators were interested in sports vision tips throughout the week and how maximizing their vision can improve their golf game.

As part of Youth Wellness Days at the Championship, over 2,000 kids were brought in for the day from Tampa Bay area schools to receive free eye screenings, golf lessons, and a sports vision and swing clinic given by pro swing instructor Matt Killen and me.  There is a statistic that states that 25 percent of school children in this country have undetected vision problems that can negatively affect their learning in school.  As groups of 40-50 kids came to our clinic at the Championship, I noticed in many groups that not even one child was wearing glasses.  One would conservatively expect at least 5-10 children per group to need vision correction based on the statistics.  That really bothered me.  I know how differently these kid’s lives can turn out if their visual needs are met at an early age.  Also, out of the 2,000 kids screened at the Transitions Championship, over 20 percent failed the screenings and were sent home with a note to their parents suggesting that they visit an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam.  If these statistics are typical of the whole nation, then this is hugely significant.  You want to talk about equal opportunity?  I strongly believe that all children in our country need to be receiving regular, comprehensive eye exams to have an equal opportunity for a future of meeting their full potential and being productive citizens in our society.