A comparison of static near stereo acuity in youth baseball/softball players and non–ball players

BackgroundAlthough many aspects of vision have been investigated in professional baseball players, few studies have been performed in developing athletes. The issue of whether youth baseball players have superior stereopsis to nonplayers has not been addressed specifically. The purpose of this study was to determine if youth baseball/softball players have better stereo acuity than non–ball players.MethodsInformed consent was obtained from 51 baseball/softball players and 52 non–ball players (ages 10 to 18 years). Subjects completed a questionnaire, and their static near stereo acuity was measured using the Randot™ Stereotest (Stereo Optical Company, Chicago, Illinois). Stereo acuity was measured as the seconds of arc between the last pair of images correctly distinguished by the subject.ResultsThe mean stereo acuity score was 25.5 ± 1.7 seconds of arc in the baseball/softball players and 56.2 ± 8.4 seconds of arc in the non–ball players. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.00001). In addition, a perfect stereo acuity score of 20 seconds of arc was seen in 61% of the ball players and only 23% of the non–ball players (P = 0.0001).ConclusionsYouth baseball/softball players had significantly better static stereo acuity than non–ball players, comparable to professional ball players.