Eye Movements and Visual Abilities Characteristics in Gymnasts, Soccer Players, and Esports Athletes: A Comparative Study

This study investigated the differences in eye movements and visual ability among female athletes from gymnastics, soccer, and esports. Forty-two female athletes (14 per Group) participated. Eye movements were recorded using Tobii Pro Glasses 2 while the participants viewed standardized video stimuli. Fixation count, fixation duration, and saccade amplitude were analyzed. Visual abilities were assessed through tasks measuring visual working memory, peripheral vision, and near-far accommodation. Gymnasts exhibited significantly longer fixation duration compared to soccer players for single object stimuli. Gymnasts also showed longer total fixation duration compared to both soccer and esports athletes. Esports athletes demonstrated faster mean reaction times in the near-far accommodation task compared to gymnasts. The findings indicate that sport-specific visual demands influence eye movement patterns and performance. The gymnasts exhibited detailed visual analysis, while the soccer players prioritized rapid scanning. The esports athletes demonstrated superior near-far accommodation. These findings highlight the need for sport-specific visual training