Do visual fields need to be considered in classification criteria within visually impaired shooting?

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Ophthalmology
• Sports Classification

Background:

• Classification in vision impairment (VI) shooting is determined by an athlete's visual function.
• Current classification systems may not fully account for the nuances of visual field loss in VI athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the necessity of multiple competition classes in VI shooting based on visual field loss.
• To determine if visual field function or loss impacts shooting performance in elite VI athletes.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed qualification scores from 23 elite VI athletes across prone and standing disciplines at World Championship events.
• Obtained visual field data from classification records and event assessments.
• Utilized a standardized protocol to assess visual field function (≥10 dB) versus no function (<10 dB) within 0-60 degrees eccentricity.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between visual field function and shooting performance in either discipline (p > 0.05).
• Having measurable visual field function beyond 30 degrees did not affect competitive shooting ability in prone or standing disciplines.
• A potential impact on qualification scores was observed in the standing discipline, but no specific visual field loss location adversely affected performance.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence does not support the inclusion of visual field assessments in classification for prone or standing VI shooting.
• Further research is recommended as the sport of VI shooting continues to grow and evolve.