VERNON HILLS, Ill., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- For many Olympic athletes, an
emerging trend in training may help them gain an edge on their competition
this year. Athletes, including U.S. Luge's Mark Grimmette, have devoted time
not only to working out at the gym, but to working out their eyes.
The Visual Fitness Institute(R) (VFI), one of the only visual evaluation
and training centers in the country, has created a program that evaluates
aspects of visual fitness beyond 20/20 vision.
"As Olympic athletes continue to raise the bar on performance, they will
have to look to at innovative ways to gain an edge," said ophthalmologist,
Barry L. Seiller, M.D., founder and director of VFI. "At the Olympic level,
poor visual skills are often blamed for near misses, and those near misses are
critical when competing among the best athletes in the world."
At VFI, athletes undergo tests to evaluate depth perception, visual
memory, kinetic acuity, near to far focusing and tracking ability. After the
tests are evaluated, a series of visual "work outs" will be prescribed for the
athlete to help sharpen visual skills.
Seiller's work has been credited with improved performance and results.
In fact, his training with the 1998 U.S. Luge team was recognized as an
impetus in helping the team to win their first Olympic medals.
"We began training with Dr. Seiller in 1994, and in 1998 U.S. Luge won
silver and bronze medals for the first time in history," said Grimmette, U.S.
Luge team member and 1998 Olympic bronze medallist. "We are confident that
visual fitness training has played a role in our success."
Seiller opened the Visual Fitness Institute in 1989, training world-class
professional and amateur athletes. In 1992, he served as member of the
Olympic Vision Center in Albertville, France, where he learned about visual
performance techniques from the Russians and Eastern Europeans. He recently
developed The Vizual Edge Visual Performance Trainer? CD for athletes of all
levels to use from the convenience of their own homes or while traveling. The
CD contains five exercises that help hone key visual skills, including eye
alignment, depth perception, eye flexibility, visual recognition and visual
tracking. It is the first self-administered vision performance-training
device available to consumers. For more information on the CD, visit
http://www.vizualedge.com .
For more information on Dr. Seiller, call 847-816-3131 or visit
http://www.visualfitness.com
SOURCE Visual Fitness Institute
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Related links:
http://www.visualfitness.com
http://www.vizualedge.com
CONTACT:
Susan Stoga, 847-884-0000, for Visual Fitness
Institute
NOTE TO EDITORS: Dr. Barry Seiller is available for interviews.
Please call 847-816-3131.
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