According to recent studies, Americans spend an average of 10 hours a day in front of screens, with at least one hour devoted to playing video games. Depending on how frequent you use digital devices, you may experience eye strain and eventually develop problems with your vision.
Of course, in this day and age when people heavily rely on computers for both work and recreation, it can be hard to shorten your screen time. In this article, Vienna Eyecare Center, a trusted eye care specialist in the area, shares a few essential tips to help you avoid or minimize eye strain when playing video games.
How to Prevent Eye Strain
Spending more than three hours per day playing video games is often considered excessive, and it can result in computer vision syndrome (CVS), a condition marked by eye strain, dry eyes and pain in your neck and shoulders. Follow these tips so that you can avoid eye strain:
- Observe the 20-20-20 rule. After every 20 minutes of screen time, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes the opportunity to adjust and rest between screen times.
- Ensure your screen isn’t on a low-contrast setting as this can force your eyes to work harder.
- Make sure there’s proper lighting in the room to reduce glare. You can also opt to wear eyeglasses with anti-reflective coating.
If you frequently experience eye strain, consult with an eye doctor.
How Video Games Can Benefit Your Vision
It might come as a surprise to learn that playing video games provides some benefits to your eyes. For example, “action” video games can improve your vision when it comes to visual activities like reading and driving at night. Some vision therapists even promote video games to treat amblyopia.
These benefits, however, can only be attained through a moderate amount of video gaming. Anything excessive will naturally have a negative impact on your vision.
Every optometrist at Vienna Eyecare Center ensures top-notch and personalized services for our customers. Call us at (703) 938-7633 or fill out our contact form to make an appointment. We offer our services to clients in Fairfax, VA, and nearby areas.
