You’re trying to do your holiday shopping, but you’ve hit a snag. Your daughter wants nothing but video games. She already spends a lot of time playing them, and you’re sure they’re bad for her eyes. She, however, says that playing video games is actually good for her eyesight. So, are they good or are they bad? How video games can help your eyes In some ways, your daughter is correct. Video games do have a number of eyesight benefits. They help improve spatial resolution, which means people can see things easier and clearer. Specifically, gamers can become more sensitive to different shades of color and are better at perceiving contrast differences. Action games can also improve players’ visual attention, which means their visual reaction times increase. Some doctors use video games as therapy for patients with amblyopia – or lazy eye – and in some cases even for patients with cataracts. How video games can hurt your eyes But you weren’t wrong, either. After a certain point, video games can cause your eyes more harm than good. After three or more hours of video games, your child can start getting eyestrain or dry eye, because they are staring at the screen and blinking less. Also, because images aren’t always as sharply defined on a screen as they are off-screen, eyes must work harder to focus on them. The distance we generally sit from screens is also unusual compared to other objects, too, so your children’s eyes have to work harder to focus on them. If your child just has to complete their new game before bed, make sure they take frequent breaks to rest their eyes. Looking away from the screen and blinking frequently can help reduce dry eye and eyestrain. “A good rule of thumb is to use moderation in screen time and to be sure to take frequent breaks,” CEENTA Ophthalmologist Rachel Sabo, MD, said. “I encourage kids – and adults – to make an effort to take a break every 20 minutes or so, even if it’s just walking to the kitchen to get some water or looking off somewhere in the distance for a minute.” Also, too much blue light from the screen may disrupt your child’s sleep patterns. While there are glasses and screen filters that minimize blue light, it’s still better to limit your child’s screen time, especially at bedtime. So, if your daughter really wants that new game, it’s okay to get it for her, as long as she plays in moderation. This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. Dr. Sabo sees patients in our Statesville office. To make an appointment with her or any of CEENTA’s eye doctors, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.
