UIW Sport Vision Helps Cardinals See and Perform Their Best
When a Cardinal tracks a fast-moving ball, reacts to an opponent, judges distance or scans the field, vision is doing far more than simply seeing clearly. It helps the athlete process information, make decisions and respond in an instant. At the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), student-athletes have a unique resource dedicated to developing those abilities. UIW is home to the nation’s only NCAA Division I Sports Vision Training Center, located on the Broadway campus and operated by the Rosenberg School of Optometry. Nearly $800,000 in vision services support UIW student-athletes each year.
A nationally distinctive training center that brings advanced vision science, student-athlete care and specialized clinical education together thrives on the UIW campus. UIW student-athletes receive complimentary access to specialized sports vision services designed to support performance on the field, court, track and in the pool. The Sports Vision Enhancement Service combines cutting-edge technology with evidence-based training programs tailored to the visual demands athletes face in competition. The training develops reaction time, peripheral awareness, depth perception, visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, timing and other performance-critical skills. These abilities can influence how quickly an athlete recognizes a developing play, responds to movement and maintains awareness in a fast-changing environment, potentially helping to reduce the risk of sports-related injuries.
“The Sports Vision service offers significant benefits for both UIW students and athletes. Students gain valuable hands-on training experience, while athletes receive personalized vision training protocols comparable to those used by elite and professional athletes. This program creates meaningful educational experiences while supporting athletic performance and competitive success,” said Allison Cronin, OD, FAAO, clinical associate professor and chief, Sports and Vision Enhancement Service.
UIW’s leadership in this growing specialty also extends beyond collegiate athletics. In partnership with the United States Air Force, UIW offers the nation’s only Sports Vision Fellowship for Air Force optometrists. The fellowship provides advanced clinical and research training and demonstrates how academic expertise at UIW can contribute to military readiness, innovation, and the continued development of the sports vision field.
Interim Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Well-Being Salvineo J. Cervantes, MS, ATC/LAT, shared “The partnership between Sports Vision and UIW athletics has been very impactful on our student-athletes. They have been able to enhance and elevate their athletic performance with the help of Dr. Cronin and her staff! It has also been great to see our sport coaches take advantage of this resource on campus. Many of them have included sports vision as part of their weekly training so their athletes can continue to sharper their visual and spatial awareness.”