 
2007 Sports Vision Seminars
Once again, our expert Optometrist and Sports Vision Specialist Bryan
Smith entertained shooters with his sports vision presentation at
Belmont Range during the 2007 Queens Prize Meeting.
Next year Bryan is planning to make himself available to consult with
shooters on the range prior to the Queens. Dates will be
advertised here closer to the 2008 competition.
Sports Vision Seminars cover the following topics with an emphasis
on full bore shooting:
1. Managing visual fatigue, before, during and after shooting.
2. Visual problems that affect shooting and how they can be
remedied
3. What are the benefits of testing on the range versus testing in
the office?
4. Practical visual training for the shooting.
5. Nutrition and vision. What can you add to you diet and what to
avoid.
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Bryan Smith
B.Optom (UNSW), FACBO, FCOVD
Aphrodite Livanes, Shop 43,
Alexandra Hills Shopping Centre
Finucane Road, Alexandra Hills, Queensland 4161
07 3824 1878
Exercise
your eyes on the computer simulator
discussed
at Bryan's presentation
Australian Institute of Sport Information |
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Bryan Smith and Aphrodite Livanes are
local Optometrists with a practice only ten minutes away from Belmont
Range and both are accredited Sports Vision specialists.
Bryan's expertise is prescribing for rifle shooters, an interest he
developed whilst serving in the Army Reserve with the University
of NSW Regiment in Sydney.
Bryan caters for shooters from all
disciplines and he will consult with members at the range with all their
shooting gear in their shooting position in order to ensure they are
fitted with the most appropriate visual aids.
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How do I get to
Aphrodite Livanes Optometrist?
Exit the range and turn
right onto Old Cleveland Road. Drive due east for
approximately ten minutes, straight through Capalaba, past McDonalds and
keep going towards Cleveland.
Look for the traffic lights with Hungry Jack's on the corner and turn
right. Turn left into the carpark and the shop is inside the
Alexandra Hills shopping centre. |
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2006 Sports Vision Seminar
Rex and Meredith met with Bryan
on behalf of the Queensland Rifle Association and arranged with him to give a presentation to interested shooters during the National
Queens. On Friday 23 June 2006, 35 members of
the Qld, NSW, Nth Qld, NT, ACT, VIC and WA state teams, New Zealand
Ladies team and club members attended a presentation on Sports Vision at
Belmont Range.
Brian began by discussing the cause and effects of visual problems
such as astigmatism
(asymmetric blurring of vision), myopia (short sightedness) and
hyperopia (long sightedness), and showed graphic images of eye diseases
and injuries. Bryan conducted some entertaining
individual and group exercises to demonstrate the effects of lenses and
occluders on visual and motor skills. We practiced balancing,
visualisation and listened to the benefits of muscle memory in sports
performance. We laughed watching volunteers attempt simple
physical tasks whilst wearing an eye patch or lenses designed to simulate
impaired visual function.
Brian described in technical detail, the
optical effects produced by different types of visual aids, from eagle
eyes in the foresight to prescriptive lenses at the rear sight and eye.
He explained the use of multifocal
contact lenses which are particularly suitable for shooters who are becoming
presbyopic with age.
Those of us who are over 40 and can no
longer read the vernier scale on our sights without a magnifying glass
are likely to be experiencing presbyopia, the gradual loss of
flexibility in the lens of the eye, which is part of the normal aging
process. Normal vision is the ability to read and write at
knuckle to elbow distance.
If you are experiencing difficulty in
focussing on the foresight ring, aiming mark and vernier scale to your
satisfaction, visit Bryan and take the following information and
equipment with you to your initial consultation:
1. All sighting aids such as
eagle eye, diopter, lens, spectacles, glasses etc.
2. Rear sight including variable aperture accessories.
3. The exact measurement of the distance between your eye
and your rear sight.
4. The exact measurement of the distance between your rear
sight and foresight.
5. A list of the distances you shoot at eg 300 - 1000 yards.
Thanks Brian!
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Kim O'Loghlen (Qld) trying to
throw balls into a box whilst wearing various lenses to simulate visual
impairment

Ann Chinnery (NQld) pouring water
between tea cups whilst wearing an eye patch

Bryan presenting to State Rifle Teams
and QRA members at Belmont Range |