A Descriptive Analysis of Visual and Oculomotor Skills in Federated University Athletes

Background: Visual and oculomotor skills are essential components of athletic performance, particularly in sports that demand rapid visual processing and precise motor execution. This study aimed to provide a descriptive analysis of the visual and oculomotor abilities of federated university athletes and explore their relationship with self-perceived performance. Methods: A total of 52 federated university athletes (34 men and 18 women), aged 18 to 37 years, participated in this observational and descriptive study. Visual assessments were conducted using the digital COI-Sport Vision system, evaluating static and dynamic visual acuity, stereopsis, vergence, contrast sensitivity, visual memory, hand-eye coordination, anticipation time, peripheral awareness, and identification. Results: The findings revealed patterns in the visual and oculomotor skills of this cohort, particularly in parameters such as dynamic visual acuity, stereopsis, and hand-eye coordination, which are relevant to the demands of their sports. Athletes reporting a higher satisfaction with their performance exhibited faster response times in visual memory (p = 0.039) and anticipation tasks (p = 0.022). These results suggest a potential relationship between self-perceived performance and specific visual skills, although further research is needed to establish causal links. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the visual and oculomotor abilities of federated university athletes, emphasizing the potential influence of self-perceived performance on visual skill execution. While the results do not allow for direct comparisons with other populations, they lay the groundwork for future research into sport-specific visual demands. Incorporating validated psychological assessments and exploring longitudinal designs could further enhance an understanding of the interplay between visual skills, motivation, and athletic performance.