Gaming is a popular pastime for a reason. It’s an immersive form of entertainment, with the best titles allowing you to explore virtual worlds and complete fun challenges. And though it’s often lauded for improving skills like hand-eye coordination, there are even more advantageous reasons to play video games. That includes the fact that it can improve your eyesight, as gaming can enhance your ability to see subtle differences in contrast.
Despite these, gaming still has its own drawbacks when it comes to how it affects the eyes. The average gamer spends 8.41 hours looking at screens, which is why 36% experience headaches and 31% report having blurry vision. Luckily, most of these issues can be fixed if you know the proper practices to prevent them. Here are some eye issues you may experience while gaming and how to address them:
Computer vision syndrome
Gaming can strain the eyes by forcing them to look at things up close for extended periods. That can cause a condition known as computer vision syndrome (CVS), which is characterized by symptoms like double vision, red eyes, and headaches. It happens when your muscles become fatigued, as they cannot focus on things clearly and on a single image when gaming. Experiencing CVS for prolonged periods can cause long-term pain and discomfort and even lead to issues like astigmatism.
You can prevent this by adjusting your screen’s settings for better eye comfort. For example, you can increase the font size of in-game subtitles for easier reading. If you play in a dark room, you can also make your screen brighter so your eyes don’t struggle to see clearly.
Myopia
Constant gaming can also increase your risk of myopia or nearsightedness. That’s because your eyes tend to “over-focus” on things closer to you, making it hard for them to adjust when you look at things at different distances.
To avoid this, check your eyes regularly so you can always wear glasses with an updated prescription when gaming. Prescription glasses allow light to focus on the correct part of the retina so you can see clearly and prevent gaming from making your myopia worse. You can even buy prescription glasses specifically made for gaming online, where qualified opticians can ensure you get the best possible pair for your needs. Many brands available here offer good gaming models, including Oakley’s Centerboard-53, which has thin arms that make it headset-compatible.
Getting dry eyes
Dry eye occurs when you don’t have enough tears to lubricate your eyes. This increases the friction between your eyes and eyelids, creating a gritty or burning sensation that can lead to redness, itchiness, irritation, and even pain. You’re more prone to experiencing this condition when gaming since you may be blinking less to focus on the elements on your screen.
Though blinking more often can help, you may not be able to do so voluntarily as you play. So, it’s best to apply eye drops instead during more intense gaming sessions. Artificial tears should be your go-to for dryness, as these keep the eyes’ surface moist by mimicking real tears. What’s great is that you can get these at your local drugstore without a prescription. Refresh Tears’s eye drops are a good option: they work fast and come in an easy-squeeze bottle. That makes it easier to use them whenever you have some spare time while gaming, whether it be during cut scenes or lulls between matches.
Experiencing blurry vision
Despite having perfect eyesight, you may begin to see things hazily when gaming. Blurry vision is a typical problem gamers report, which may be caused by moving your eyes rapidly for long periods. Although it may go away, blurry vision can be uncomfortable and lead to accidents, like tripping over wires when standing up.
Practicing the 20-20-20 rule can address this issue. For every 20 minutes of gaming, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes time to rest and stay still in between games. You can set a reminder on your phone or keep a clock near your gaming setup to remind you when you should look away from your computer or TV. Consistently practicing this can prevent constant blurriness.
While gaming is fun, you must look after your eye health. This way, you can continue this hobby for as long as you want without risking your eyesight.
For more gaming articles, browse our other posts here at GameSpace.com.
