When the sun is bright and the golf course is unfamiliar, it’s important to be able to rely on your most valuable piece of equipment: your vision. When your golf game is "off," you probably practice your putting skills or recheck your swing. But have you ever asked, "Is my eyesight affecting my golf game?" Here are 5 vision factors to consider:

Depth Perception

Golf requires a good sense of depth perception, which allows you to be able to judge far distances. This allows you to make judgments on golf course variables as well as decide how hard to hit the ball.

Eye Dominance

Understanding and knowing which eye is dominant is incredibly important concerning your alignment. Positioning yourself in line with the ball allows you to know how to adjust your club before hitting the ball. The ability to read the greens and judge how the wind will affect your swing has all to do with the quality of your vision.           

Eye-Hand Coordination

Having excellent hand-eye coordination is dire while playing golf. Disparities between the two could mean a bad stroke of the club.

Glare Recovery/Sensitivity to Brightness

The bright sunshine, especially when reflected off of any bodies of water, can cause glare issues. Hitting shots into the sun (or trying to follow them) not only becomes quite a challenge but it also causes eye fatigue.

Contrast Sensitivity

Being able to determine the depths of the hills and positions of golf holes in hazy and low-light conditions is vital when playing golf. Contrast sensitivity also allows you to determine the state of the green, whether it’s moist or dry or what direction it’s generally leaning in.

Regardless of the caliber of club you use, the gloves, or golf balls, if you’re not investing enough in your eyesight, it’s all worthless. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harmful blue light the sun radiates. Polarized sunglasses also decrease the amount of glare and help you avoid eye fatigue. Also, don't underestimate the importance of nutrition. Ensure you add the antioxidants zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein to your diet for optimal vision performance and eye health.