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New research · Ophthalmology
Journal of science and medicine in sport · 23h
StudyJournal of science and medicine in sport · 2026

Classifying footballers with a visual impairment: The relationship between visual function and technical performance.

Harrison K Leivers, Peter M Allen, Matthew A Timmis … Oliver R Runswick
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OphthalmologyStudy

Better visual acuity is linked to better technical football performance in vision-impaired players

Classifying footballers with a visual impairment: The relationship between visual function and technical performance.

Harrison K Leivers … Oliver R Runswick
Journal of science and medicine in sport · 2026
Background

The classification system for blind and partially sighted football is currently based on the World Health Organisation's definition of vision impairment and does not account for the impact of impairment on performance.

Purpose

Through analysing the relationship between vision impairment and technical performance, the study aimed to produce evidence that can be used for sport-specific classification in football for athletes with vision impairment.

Methods

Observational study.

Results

sharper eyesight strongly linked to better football skill test scores

Visual acuity
0.635r
Contrast sensitivity
-0.499r
More results

There was no relationship with visual field.

A single split based on a visual acuity of 2.40logMAR offered the best option for classifying athletes who can and cannot compete with their remaining vision.

Contrast sensitivity and visual field could not accurately classify performance in this test.

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

This model would lead to those with less severe impairments being able to compete in blind football while reducing the maximum impairment eligible for partially sighted football.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

A 2.40logMAR class boundary optimally classified football performance in the participants recruited.

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