#59: How Fatigue Sabotages Your Visual Game

Athletes, parents, and coaches are sounding the alarm: “Their eyes just aren’t working anymore.” Missed shots, poor tracking, fuzzy vision, late reactions. These aren’t just random off days. They’re symptoms of a predictable, research-backed cascade of visual fatigue. In today’s episode, Dr. Daniel Laby breaks down what’s actually happening when an athlete says, “I just can’t see anymore,” and why most people have been thinking about sports vision all wrong. He explains the three overlapping systems that fail under fatigue, the science behind visual breakdown, and what athletes can finally do about it. This is a must-listen for athletes, coaches, performance staff, and parents who want to understand the hidden factor limiting high-level performance and how to train it. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Visual fatigue has three components: physical, eye muscle, and cognitive Fatigue follows a predictable breakdown: eye movements → gaze control → timing → decisions Many late-game mistakes are caused by tired eyes, not tired legs Visual performance under fatigue is measurable and trainable EPISODE TIMESTAMPS: 00:29 - Understanding Visual Fatigue: A New Perspective 00:58 - Physical Fatigue and Its Impact on Vision 01:34 - Local Visual Oculomotor Fatigue 02:03 - Cognitive Fatigue: The Hidden Challenge 02:38 - The Predictable Pattern of Visual Breakdown 05:21 - Real-World Implications and Solutions 05:50 - Addressing Visual Fatigue 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to Sports Vision Radio so you never miss an episode on the science of peak performance.