The Philippine Sports Commission is set to break new ground in athlete development through a pioneering collaboration with Sports Vision on April 9 and 11 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, aiming to ensure elite national athletes achieve optimal vision in their respective sports.
“This is an eye-opener and a reminder that if we work together, we might start winning medals in sports that demand perfect vision,” said PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio, emphasizing the critical role of vision care in competitive performance.
The initiative will be led by esteemed optometrists, including Dr. Teresita R. Yambot and Dr. Maris S. Paredes, Dean of the National University School of Optometry—both influential figures in Philippine optometry.
Recently, the executive committee of the “Sight on the Goal: Sports Performance Vision in Action” program held a strategic planning session at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex with Chairman Gregorio, Dr. Yambot, and Dr. Paredes, who head the FDM Vision Care, Research, and Training Institute Team, alongside key industry partners.
Dr. Yambot, former president of Vision Skills and Learning Solutions and the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO), and Dr. Paredes, past IPAO vice president specializing in pediatric optometry and low vision, have long advanced the standards of vision care in the country. Their leadership in the Board of Optometry and professional associations has helped elevate sports vision and performance vision practices nationwide.
“This is something we’ve often taken for granted, so now is the perfect time to prioritize it for our athletes and national team as we prepare for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, later this year,” Gregorio added.
Organizers expect more than 500 participants, including national elite athletes and collegiate student-athletes, to benefit from the program. The event is backed by the PSC in partnership with the FDM Vision Care Research and Training Institute.
The importance of vision in sports was recently highlighted at the Philippine Women’s Open WTA125, where University of Santo Tomas standout Kaye Emana competed wearing glasses against Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova in her WTA debut at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Although Emana exited in the round of 32, her case underscores the critical role of visual aids for athletes performing at the highest level, particularly in fast-paced sports like tennis where reaction time and depth perception are vital.
“I look forward to a successful collaboration and to identifying athletes who need help with their vision. It’s all about the coordination of the eye and the brain,” said Gregorio, noting its significance in precision sports such as archery and shooting.
Sports vision, a recognized field within optometry and sports science, goes beyond correcting normal eyesight. The program will feature world-class specialty training in sports vision in partnership with the NU-MOA School of Optometry and the CEU School of Optometry.
USA-based Sports Vision experts Dr. Vittorio Mena and Dr. Elizabeth Nace will lead sessions highlighting the powerful connection between vision, the brain, and athletic success. Health care professionals, vision specialists, educators, athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts will gain hands-on techniques to assess and enhance an athlete’s visual performance, along with a deep understanding of how vision training complements physical conditioning to maximize potential.
The program focuses on training and assessment to enhance visual skills such as eye-hand coordination, depth perception, reaction time, and focus—essentially training the visual system alongside physical conditioning. Customized for each sport and athlete, sports vision is particularly critical in disciplines requiring precision and speed, including archery, shooting, basketball, tennis, and martial arts.
By integrating vision training into athlete preparation, the PSC aims to unlock untapped potential and give Filipino athletes a sharper edge on the international stage.
