Eye Strain in Tennis: Visual Fatigue & Training Strategies to Reset Focus

Key Points

• Visual Fatigue:

  • Visual fatigue is real and often misattributed to general tiredness - after 45 minutes of visual effort, dynamic visual perception can drop by 15-25%.
  • Causes include uncorrected vision defects, repeated oculomotor movements, sustained concentration, and constant near-far focusing (accommodation).
  • Signs of visual fatigue: excessive blinking, blurry vision, delayed processing, and difficulty with precise positioning.
  • Manage fatigue by breaking training into 3-5 minutes of effort followed by 1 minute of active recovery - focus on a distant clear target and blink to reset tear film.
  • On court, use side changes to relax eye accommodation: look at a sharp distant point and let your eyes reset.

• Always do a visual warm-up before matches:

  • Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal saccades (5-6 back-and-forths each).
  • Physiological diplopia drill (switching focus between a near and far finger, like a windshield wiper).
  • These exercises prep the visual system, reduce fatigue, and help reset concentration. A top 10 player used them consistently before every match and practice.