Evaluation of Stereo Acuity in Professional Baseball and LPGA Athletes Compared to Non-Athletes

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate stereo acuity of professional athletes in an open (baseball) and closed (golf) skilled sport compared to nonathletes using a new digitized version of the Titmus Stereo Test/Wirt Circles. Additionally, to examine the new test for reliability and validity. Methods: Participants included professional baseball players (PBP; n = 265) and professional women golfers (LPGA; n = 52), and nonathletes (n = 107). All participants were tested on the RightEye Fine Depth Perception (FDP) test and a subset (n = 20) was retested to determine reliability and internal consistency. A different subset (n = 81) was tested for validity comparing the Titmus Stereo Test/Wirt Circles to the RightEye FDP test. Cronbach’s Alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were examined for reliability and ANOVA was conducted to determine convergent validity as well as differences in stereo acuity between groups. Results: Results: The test was revealed to have high reliability and validity, therefore being a good measure of stereo acuity. Furthermore, significant differences (p<.001) between athletes and non-athletes were found. Both PBP and LPGA athletes were significantly different from non-athletes (p<.05). No differences were found between athlete groups. Conclusions: The RightEye FDP test is both reliable and valid and can therefore be used confidently as a measure of static stereo acuity. Elite athletes in open and closed skills show significantly better stereo acuity than non-athletes.