ACCOMMODATION DISORDERS IN ESPORTS ATHLETES: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY USING STANDARDIZED VISUAL LOAD

Abstract

Aim. This paper aims to examine the features of eye accommodation in esports athletes. Material and methods. Accommodation abnormalities were investigated during a 60-minute esports session in 16 esports athletes and 20 controls. The study methods involved accommodography with analysis of accommodative microfluctuations and refractive dynamics in response to a stepwise increasing accommodative stimulus (from + 0.5 D to –3.5 D in 0.5 D steps), along with instrumental assessment of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and a survey. Results. It was found that esports athletes spend about 7 hours per day on the computer, which is nearly three times higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Accommodographic analysis revealed that esports athletes had a higher frequency of microfluctuations (> 62 μfl/min), observed in 70.9 % of athletes compared to 51.4 % of controls (p < 0.001), as well as a reduced accommodative response (111.7 % vs. 317.6 % in response to a –3.5 D stimulus). Following a 60-minute standardized visual load, esports athletes showed an increased proportion of supernormal microfluctuations (to 73.7 %, p < 0.001), a further reduced accommodative response (97.9 % vs. 334.2 % at –3.5 D stimulus), along with multiple missed responses and disorganized accommodative tracings. Conclusion. The results indicate a dysregulation of the accommodative system in esports athletes. This study underscores the need for: developing specialized screening programs for esports athletes; further investigation into the long-term consequences of extreme visual loads; and studying the efficacy of various corrective and preventive methods for accommodative disorders in esports.