Playing Games With Their Eyesight: The rising battle of eye strain for gamers

In the dynamic world of video games, where rapid reflexes and sharp eyesight are essential, an emerging health concern casts a shadow on the bright screens of gaming: the alarming upsurge in screen-induced eye strain and myopia. This is particularly worthy of attention in December, the strongest month globally for video games sales.

“The increasing reliance on digital devices is not without consequences, especially in an environment where every millisecond matters,” says Dr. Samer Hamada, a distinguished ophthalmologist in conversation with casinos.win. He underscores the escalating prevalence of myopia globally, now impacting 30-40% of the population, a trend intensifying alarmingly in professional and recreational gaming circles.

“Blue light exposure is also a topic of discussion.”, says Dr. Hamada. “While the evidence is still evolving, there are concerns that the blue light emitted by screens could potentially contribute to retinal stress over time.”

“Additionally, prolonged video game use can lead to a reduction in blinking, which can cause dry eyes and discomfort.”, he adds. “It’s also important to consider that excessive screen time can lead to a lack of physical activity, which is essential for overall health, including eye health.”

Dr. Hamada emphasises his top strategies for gamers to improve gaming performance and protect their vision during a “myopia boom”:

1. Lighting and Screen Distance: The room should be well-lit, but not overly bright, to avoid glare on the screen -indirect lighting is best for this. The position of players’ screens should be at about an arm’s length away, to prevent eye strain and fatigue.

2. Screen Size and Ambient Lighting: Larger screens can cause more eye movement and potential strain and so moderate-sized screens and ambient lighting are optimal for gaming.

3. Regular Breaks: Implement the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye fatigue and maintain focus and reaction times in gaming.

4. Balancing Gaming with Outdoor Activities: Less time spent on outdoor activities means reduced exposure to natural light that is believed to protect against myopia progress. Outdoor activities provide a necessary break from the screen, allowing eyes to relax and focus on longer distances. This balance not only does good for physical health, but also for visual well-being, preventing the strain and fatigue associated with continuous close-up screen focus.

5. Dynamic Visual Acuity Training: This involves exercises to improve the ability to see moving objects clearly. Players can practise by tracking moving targets in specific training games or apps.

6. Rapid Focus Shifting: This exercise is crucial for gaming, where players often need to shift focus quickly. Alternating focus between a nearby object like a pen and a distant object helps to train this ability.

7. Peripheral Awareness Drills: Players have to have enhanced peripheral vision for gaming. To strengthen this players can do exercises that include identifying symbols or objects that appear in the peripheral vision while focusing on a central point.

8. Hand-Eye Coordination Workouts: Activities that involve precise hand-eye coordination, such as ball sports, can be very beneficial.

9. Conscious Blinking Exercises: Regular blinking is necessary to avoid dry eyes, a common issue with prolonged screen exposure.

10. Convergence Exercises: Where the focus is on a pencil moving toward and away from the nose, can strengthen the eye’s convergence ability.

11. Depth Perception Activities: Engaging in sports or other activities that involve depth judgement can enhance this skill, which is just as crucial in gaming as it is in real-world navigation and interaction.

“The prolonged focus on close-up screens is without a doubt contributing to the rise in cases of myopia, especially among younger patients. It’s a concern that aligns with global research indicating a myopia boom in recent years, with projections showing that up to 50% of the world’s population could be myopic by 2050,” says Dr. Hamada. Gamers are particularly at risk due to their extensive screen time. Dr. Hamada emphasises the need for awareness and preventive measures in the gaming community to safeguard vision health. As the eSports industry continues to grow, prioritising eye health becomes more important than ever.

About Mr. Samer Hamada and Eye Clinic London:

Established in 2011 in the prestigious Harley Medical District, Eye Clinic London stands as a beacon of excellence in ophthalmic care. Dr. Hamada, with over 25 years of experience and a record of 20,000 successful procedures, specialises in cataract and refractive surgery, offering unmatched expertise in a range of vision correction techniques.