Dr. Laby, a sports vision specialist, explains a framework called the Sports Vision Pyramid that outlines five levels of visual skills essential for optimal athletic performance. The pyramid's foundation is visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, followed by stereo vision, visual decision-making, and visually guided motor action. The video emphasizes the importance of optimizing each level, starting from the base, as poor vision at any level can hinder overall performance. Dr. Laby highlights the AVTS test as a method for assessing visual acuity and provides evidence linking strong visual function with better performance in baseball, including a study that demonstrated a relationship between visual acuity and batting success.