How Do Video Games Affect Your Vision?

How Do Video Games Affect Your Vision?

How Do Video Games Affect Your Vision?In the past, when kids were not in school, they mostly spent their time roaming the outdoors, playing games with friends and exploring the surrounding area. Likewise, adults spent a large amount of their leisure time enjoying the outdoors, having barbecues, taking hikes, or pursuing home improvement projects. Video games and vision were the least of their worries.

Times have changed, however, and an increasing number of people of all ages are using their free time for digital entertainment.

Video games have existed for nearly 70 years, and their popularity increases every year. Today, this global industry is worth over $100 billion dollars. Every hour of gameplay is an hour not spent outdoors. The world of computer screens and consoles forces our eyes to overcome different challenges than being in nature. With these new challenges come new hazards to our eyesight, as well as some surprising benefits.

So what effects can this increasingly popular hobby have on the eyesight of its devotees?  The answer may surprise you.

Vision Dangers

Most video games require a lengthy time commitment to finish any particular game, thus forcing the player to stay focused on the screen during their playtime. This can lead to the same issues caused by long-term television watching, including headaches, blurred vision, and even nearsightedness if frequent breaks aren’t taken to relax your eyes.

Prolonged bouts of video gaming can also cause symptoms very similar to Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. Computer Vision Syndrome, as the name suggests, is caused by staring at a computer screen for an extended period of time without any significant breaks. CVS, and similar symptoms related to video games, can include blurry vision, eye irritation, and light sensitivity, not to mention neck and shoulder pain.

Many of these problems are caused by the way computers and televisions draw images on their screens using pixels. The neck and shoulder pain comes on due to improper positioning of the computer monitor or television.

Protecting Your Vision

All of the dangers posed to your vision are easily addressed. Here’s a simple list of steps you can take to minimize the impact video games have on your eyesight:

  • Make certain to position yourself properly. When playing a video game on a television, the player should be six to ten feet from the screen with knees at 90-degree angles. If using a computer, the very top of the monitor should be roughly at eye level. You shouldn’t have to tilt your head to see the screen.
  • Take frequent breaks. Most vision specialists recommend taking a break every 20 to 30 minutes. During this break, look off into the distance to allow your eyes time to rest. Don’t force your eyes to focus on specific details of distant objects, just give them a rest as you take in the scene as a whole. Some optometrists also suggest looking at a distant object every 10 minutes, for 10 seconds at a time, throughout your workday or intense video game session. This is what we call the 10-10-10 Rule.
  • Reduce glare. Glares from other light sources or windows can force your eyes to work harder than they need to. Adjust your television or monitor settings until no glare is visible to reduce the risk of eye strain.
  • Try blue-light-blocking eyewear. This will help negate some of the negative effects of too much screen time.

Boost Your Nutrition

Aside from the preventative measures listed above, proper nutrition is also important for maintaining healthy vision. Here’s a short list of a few of the nutrients important for maintaining healthy eyesight:

  • Vitamin A: This is the big one. Vitamin A helps the retina function properly, and research has shown that it could also help reduce the effects of age-related vision problems. Carrots, fish oil, and dark leafy greens are excellent sources of this nutrient.
  • Lutein: You can find this antioxidant in the retina and it can help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration. You can also find lutein in yellow and green vegetables, as well as egg yolks.
  • Selenium: Selenium helps your body absorb other nutrients and vitamins. The best places to find Selenium are walnuts and seafood.

These aren’t the only important nutrients for vision maintenance, and the full list can seem quite daunting.

That’s why experts recommend taking a multivitamin supplement to make certain your eyes are getting the help they need. Plus, some diets and allergies restrict you from eating foods with these nutrients. We offer our own special blend of nutrients in the Rebuild Your Vision Ocu-Plus Formula, if you can’t get them naturally from your diet. Your eyes and vision will thank you.

Video Games Vision Benefits

All of this discussion about the hazards of digital entertainment might lead some readers to believe that video games are all risk, no reward, and this is far from the case. Video games can help both children and adults improve in several important areas.

Hand-eye coordination is an obvious one, but visual attention is less so. Visual attention, for those unfamiliar with the term, is the ability to focus on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things. Clearly, the connection between video games and vision isn’t as one-sided as it seems.

Playing action-oriented video games can give visual attention a boost, along with visual reaction time and visual ground discrimination.

Action games also improve a skill that traditionally deteriorates with age. Known as contrast sensitivity function, this ability allows people to differentiate between shades of colors displayed with a uniform background. This ability is vital for reading, as well as driving at night, and it’s one of the first to fade with age.

It’s important to note that most of these benefits come from playing action-oriented video games only. A study compared the visual benefits of action games to non-action games. Only the action game provided discernible benefits to the abilities listed above.

So, parents can breathe a sigh of relief. With healthy gaming habits, kids aren’t ruining their eyesight by playing video games. Both kids and adults can enjoy exciting vision benefits from their gaming. Just make sure to take those breaks and eat the right foods or take a multivitamin. And, of course, go outside from time to time!

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Join or Start the Discussion

  1. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Dorian Dhanushi says:

    Great Post! I really like your blog, it inspires me a lot.
    Good Job and thanks for sharing.

  2. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Shuman says:

    Thank you this really helped me with my thesis!

  3. I’m doing an essay on this
    Thx soooooo much

  4. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Yashwant Singh Pagaria India says:

    Nice article ,
    Children must avoid video games one child in India became mad like
    Thanks to Mr Tyler sir

  5. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Menno Wi says:

    Hi! I play alot of osu (very fast rythem game where you have to hit circles at the right time.) and it has really improved alot of my skills, including reaction time, “reading”(as in the ability to comprehend things that move very Quick.) and ofcourse rythem.
    So I would say playing certain types of video games train certain types of skills!

    I found this article very helpfull as I Will keep these tips in mind!

  6. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen video games are bad for your eyes says:

    this helped my video game research

  7. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    the best source ever lmao

  8. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen leganed36 says:

    it is totaly reasanbel why our eyes go blind

  9. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Marsha says:

    I have a grandson who plays video games or his tablet non-stop. I have warned his mother but I talk to deaf ears. He is on his games from 3 30pm til 9pm every night and from 8am til 11pm on the weekends. He complains of terrible headaches, back hurting, his blood pressure goes sky high and yet his mother doesn’t see a problem. As a grandmother is there anything I can help with. Thank you.

  10. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Peyton says:

    This paper really helped for my paper for school thank you so much.

  11. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen bru says:

    soo this is why get headaches, because I don’t take any breaks I always think im going to fall or somethin’

  12. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Nunya says:

    i love this article…it helps me a lot

  13. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Jake P says:

    Thank you so much!

    I’ve recently been playing a lot of video games and have realized how it affects me and what I’ve been doing wrong.

    I’m beginning to do these steps and ready to be changed!

  14. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen franky says:

    video games hurt my eyes

  15. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Jenny Badillo says:

    My son has Lazy eye(Right) he just failed the Navy vision test and was told he did not qualify to enlist, will this help with his lazy eye? they said his depth perception was not good and his distant visual acuity would not be corrected with spectacles

  16. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    vidio gaemes are dum adn verry stoopid

  17. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen cheyenne says:

    thats nice to know

  18. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Kayleena says:

    how does playing video games in the dark affect a persons visual acuity?

  19. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen dude says:

    what if violent people watch and play more vigilant things

  20. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen panpour says:

    I like this article! ill recommend this to kids!

  21. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen hots boost says:

    I have never been into the discussion about the negative effects of video and computer games, but apart from violence, self-control and other frequently mentioned drawbacks, I think vision is probably the most seriously affected aspect of our lives. Of course it is hard to say that specifically games affect the eye sight of our children as it is actually the computer screen and the extensive amount of time they spend playing that are the cause of such issue.

  22. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Jaibir Kalsi says:

    I was playing on laptop my eyes were burning and from eyes tears were coming and i was upset about that my mother took me to eye specialist he said your eyes becoming poor then my uncle told me to see on crome about eye vision when i read this passage i was suprised and i promised that i would not play games on laptop or mobile

  23. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Nicole says:

    I am concerned. My 9 year old plays on his tablet a lot. He also plays video games on the television. I have noticed recently a lot of blinking, eye rubbing and twitching- while playing on the devices and off. I obviously will be limiting his use from here on out. I will be getting him in to see a specialist as well. Should I be terrible concerned??? the appointment is a MONTH away?!! He said his eyes don’t hurt.

    thanks,

    Paranoid Mom

  24. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Person says:

    Thanks so much for wrighting this I have started to get scensitve eyes and don’t wont to have to get glass so I can now know what to do when playing games and this will be really help full

  25. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Kelvan says:

    does it make you violent

  26. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Kelvan says:

    does it really hurt your eyes

  27. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen TTT says:

    I am doing this topic on informationfull report

  28. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen NOOB says:

    I need help on the project………please help me.

  29. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Blank ______________ says:

    I found this article really helpful for my argumentative essay about vediogames being bad

  30. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen fred says:

    scince project

  31. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Video gamer says:

    This is helpful for my Science fair project.

  32. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Angel says:

    No it doesn’t it is good for you

  33. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen cool guy says:

    This was helpful. Thanks!!

  34. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Meghan says:

    I am writing a research paper about how technology affects your vision and this was a great source! Loved how you incorporated and talked about something that everyone can relate to! Blog was full of great information, very helpful and informative! I also loved the ways to protect your vision! Those will be great for my presentation and I will definitely listen to those to help protect my vision! Great blog, Thanks!

  35. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Meghan says:

    I am writing a research paper about how technology affects your vision and this was a great source! Loved how you incorporated and talked about something that everyone can relate to! Blog was full of great information, very helpful and informative! I also loved the ways to protect your vision! Those will be great for my presentation and I will definitely listen to those to help protect my vision! Great blog keep it up!

  36. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    Listen,  I am addicted to video games and this isn’t a lie. First time I played video games for a day straight(yesterday Lol) I have a terrible headache, so bad, I was took out of school today actually, I didn’t go!!!

  37. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    hahahahaha video games 
     

  38. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Yaseen says:

    Thnx so much

  39. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen William says:

    Do video game give you LOTS of medical problems

  40. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen lesley says:

    Want to find out bout the background researc

  41. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen isabelle says:

    I am doing a science fair project on this

  42. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Shashi prakash says:

    My kid’s eyes were spoiled because of excessive playing on the computer. I totally agree with this article. I bought your kit to get his vision corrected without glasses. We are getting great results already. It’s been a couple weeks now that he has been practicing exercises. Only problem I am finding is that he is restless and it is hard to keep him focused on the exercises for the specified duration. Perhaps the duration can be shortened for kids? My son is 10 years old.

    • Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Tyler Sorensen says:

      Congratulations on your success! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so the earlier you can teach them, the better. Consistency is the key, so short, more frequent durations might be best for shorter attention spans. Good luck and continued success!

  43. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Meralyn says:

    Thanks for that article it was very helpful. With the increased use of iPads, tablets and smart phones, we are using screens a lot closer to our eyes. What impact does that have on our vision?

  44. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Tan says:

    Thanks Tyler!

  45. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen m says:

    not really

  46. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    World of Warcraft does too

  47. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    also mario bros for dsi

  48. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Random Dude says:

    And in Wii Sports and Wii Resort say the same

  49. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    Try to keep the screen 16 inches away from your face at all times, that will reduce eye stress. Then, follow the rules above. ☺

  50. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen SoMeOnE YoU DoN't KnOw says:

    Actually, some games tells you to a break only the rare games like Metal Gear Solid 4. During the loading screens.
     

  51. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    thx

  52. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen A DUH DUH says:

    IDK ALSO IDC!!!

  53. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen looolololol says:

    K boss man

  54. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    ow ma eyesss hurt after readin all this but thanks it helped for a project

  55. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Abraham says:

    me to

  56. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen anernamouse says:

    me 21

  57. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Alex law says:

    thanks

  58. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Incog says:

    Writing college essay on this….

  59. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    me tooo!

  60. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Kayleena says:

    Me two

  61. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Video gamer says:

    Me to.

  62. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen happy gamer says:

    dude no its not your just mad that you shouldn’t be playing them

  63. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen happy gamer says:

    cuz take it from me for example I play video games all the time and it can really affect me like crazy.at one point I am in the real world and the next I feel like I am flying and tbh I get real delerious

  64. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen hickam library says:

    ikr me too and I am very happy about this source and what it is telling me

  65. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    By in y or up gvo go

  66. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen VideoGameFanatic says:

    He is fine that will happen to most video game users when seeing a new environment or if the screen changes for the realistic effect of the game. If I were you I would still see a specialist just to be sure you’re welcome.
    -VideoGameFanatic

  67. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    that is true

  68. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen leganed36 says:

    you are right

  69. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    thats a good qustion

  70. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Bloodroot0349 says:

    I video game for sometimes 9 hours in the summer and the only thing I can tell that is happening is my eyes are strained

  71. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    No unless you r 40 something where playing for video games for along time will hurt the neck shoulders and possibly back

  72. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    Video games are not bad.

  73. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    same lol

  74. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    me 3

  75. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    me 3

  76. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    GOOD Article

  77. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    me 21

  78. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    YESSSS!!!!!!!!!

  79. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Thomas says:

    How does texting affect the spelling and vocabulary skills of today’s youth? After reading the comments, the answer is obvious and appalling.

  80. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen cool dude says:

    thats what i said

  81. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Aksndndudn says:

    No it’s not

  82. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen video gane 6 says:

    me5

  83. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen jacob says:

    so am I! im doing this for a science fair project. how long can u play video games until your eyes hurt.

  84. Avatar for Tyler Sorensen Anonymous says:

    true

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About the Author

Avatar for Tyler Sorensen

Tyler Sorensen is the President and CEO of Rebuild Your Vision. Formerly, Tyler studied Aeronautics (just like his brother) with the dream of becoming an airline pilot, however, after 9/11 his career path changed. After graduating top of his class with a Bachelor of Science in Informational Technologies and Administrative Management, he joined Rebuild Your Vision in 2002. With the guidance of many eye care professionals, including Behavioral Optometrists, Optometrists (O.D.), and Ophthalmologists (Eye M.D.), Tyler has spent nearly two decades studying the inner workings of the eye and conducting research.

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