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Does Physical Fatigue Affect Color Vision?
Bor Tekavcic1, Radoje Čedomir Milić1, Manca Tekavcic Pompe2
1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Sports Medicine International Open
|December 13, 2018
Summary
Intense physical exertion temporarily impairs color vision, particularly affecting the tritan axis. While most athletes recover within 30 minutes, females experienced more prolonged vision deficits.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Sports Medicine
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Color vision is crucial for various activities, including sports.
- The impact of acute physical fatigue on color vision remains underexplored.
- Understanding these effects can inform athlete safety and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if intense physical fatigue affects human color vision.
- To identify which color vision axes are most susceptible to fatigue.
- To examine the duration of these effects and potential gender differences.
Main Methods:
- Thirty elite athletes (15 male, 15 female) underwent the Wingate test (WT) to induce physical fatigue.
- Blood lactate levels measured fatigue intensity.
- Color vision assessed using Hardy-Rand-Rittler (HRR) and Mollon-Reffin Minimalist (MRM) tests pre- and post-WT.
Main Results:
- Post-WT, 83% of participants showed tritan axis deficits, while 6% had protan axis deficits.
- Tritan axis deficits persisted in 40% at 10 minutes and 26% at 30 minutes post-exercise.
- Female athletes exhibited more pronounced and longer-lasting color vision impairments.
Conclusions:
- Intense physical effort significantly, albeit temporarily, impairs color vision.
- The tritan axis is predominantly affected by acute physical fatigue.
- Gender influences the susceptibility and recovery time of color vision after exertion.
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