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Paraphrasing the meaning of the film Eyes Wide Shut, which talks about the need to open our eyes to the ambivalence of the reality that surrounds us, an interesting research carried out by 'Driving Vision Science' (DVS), dedicated to the study of the reactions of the visual apparatus of riders racing on circuits all over the world, created by SIFI, a leading pharmaceutical company in the ophthalmic sector, together with the LCR Honda MotoGP Team, has produced an unusual result.
In fact, a normal person blinks, i.e. bats his eyes about 8 times a minute to restore the natural tear film of the eye, but MotoGP riders do it only once every three minutes.
This reaction is due to the extreme conditions, generated by visual stress and physical and mental concentration, faced by the riders and analysed by SIFI experts in the field of MotoGP.
That’s something unique, since among other things it happens in a particular microclimate situation that is created inside the helmet. Taking into account that a lap at Mugello in MotoGP takes around 1’50", which means doing a lap and a half without 'batting an eye'.
Motorcycling at its highest competitive level and with a very high level of psycho-physical, and consequently visual, stress which the riders undergo in test and race conditions allows convincing tests to be made.
Thanks to close collaboration between SIFI and the team run by Lucio Cecchinello and with riders Takaaki Nakagami and Cal Crutchlow, since 2015 the researchers have been able to collect data that make possible even more advanced study techniques and new solutions for dry eyes.
The aim of the research is to develop specific behavioural solutions and, in the near future, to be able to test products capable of improving the visual performance of all those who for work or leisure can be subjected to stress and high ocular strain.
