For a professional rugby player, vision is critical. From reading the defensive line in a split second to tracking a high ball under pressure, clear vision plays an important role on the field.
For Springbok rugby player Pieter-Steph du Toit, his refractive error meant relying on vision correction, while traditional options such as glasses and contact lenses presented practical challenges in a high-impact sporting environment.
“When I do things, I do it right the first time,” says Pieter-Steph.
That philosophy formed part of his decision to explore laser vision correction with specialist ophthalmologist Dr Daemon McClunan at Atlantic Eye Laser Centre in Cape Town.
Refractive errors such as shortsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia are extremely common. Glasses and contact lenses provide vision correction, but for people involved in contact sports or very active lifestyles, they may not always be a viable option.
Laser refractive surgery offered Pieter-Steph the opportunity to reduce his dependence on glasses and contact lenses by reshaping his cornea so that light is focused more accurately within the eye.
Not everyone is suitable for laser vision correction. Pieter-Steph underwent a comprehensive assessment. Factors such as corneal shape and thickness, prescription, eye health and lifestyle all influence whether surgery is appropriate and which technique should be considered.
Modern refractive surgery includes several different approaches, including SMILE, LASIK, PRK, PRESBYOND and IPCL. Each has particular advantages and considerations. For athletes involved in high-impact or contact sports, the nature of their sporting activities forms an important part of selecting the most appropriate procedure.
Pieter-Steph describes his experience following treatment simply:
“I used to see a fog,” he says. “I would sum it up now by saying that I can see in HD 24/7.”
For active patients, reducing dependence on corrective lenses can offer practical benefits beyond everyday convenience, from training and travelling to participating in sport without having to manage glasses or contact lenses.
Pieter-Steph’s experience reflects a question relevant to many active South Africans: are glasses or contact lenses the best long-term solution for their particular lifestyle?
Laser vision correction is not appropriate for everyone, and although modern laser vision correction has an excellent safety profile, no surgical procedure is without potential risks. A comprehensive ophthalmic assessment is therefore essential to determine suitability and to discuss the potential benefits, limitations and risks of the available options.
For suitable patients, however, modern refractive surgery can provide a safe alternative to ongoing dependence on glasses or contact lenses, whether competing at the highest level of sport or simply enjoying an active lifestyle.
- Foreshore & Blaauwberg
+27 60 086 5367
