Is it true video gaming can affect your eyesight?

[grub20]

I have always heard those rumors that gaming on a daily basis will impact your eyesight negatively for the rest of your life. I have never seen evidence for this, but as someone with imperfect eyesight, I wonder if it's true.

Anyone ever studied this?

[Indoril Nerevar]

I haven't studied this, and I don't know anything official, but I'm inclined to say the rumours are pretty much just that - rumours. I've been using computers on a daily basis for about a decade, and my eyesight is still great.

[Tiber Septim]

Old wives tale.

There is no single theory that satisfactorily explains myopia—in particular, studies show that "eyestrain" from close reading and computer games does not explain myopia. There is also no evidence that reading in dim light causes vision to deteriorate.

I know that if I have extremely long gaming session (12+ hours) my eyes start to get a little tired, yet after a short break I feel fine and am ready to play again.

[dm01]

If your screen is very bright (comparable to a halogen floodlight), then you might get some vision issues after extended heavy exposure. I think most people, using standard equipment, are safe.

My eyes have never been very good, so I don't have my monitor very bright. This is just so I can see what's going on, not because I'm concerned the screen will make me completely blind.

[Aus_Karlos]

Originally Posted by Tiber Septim

Old wives tale.

Just like if you watch TV for too long your eyes will go square.

[Origin]

Not sure if it is an old wives tale.

Here in the UK employers have to, by law, contribute towards eye exams and cost of spectacles for all employees that use a computer screen for extended periods.

[RockmasteR]

some says that when you use your PC for too long, just take your eyes away for about 1 minute and look at something far, like a forest or buildings, even stars, anything far from you, this will relax your eyes and relief them.

[koala]

Good advice, Rockmaster. If I'm on the computer for a long time, I hold my hand up in front of my face and then switch between focussing on the hand and something far off in the distance for a few seconds each. Doing this every hour or so exercises the eye muscles and reduces strain.

You should also have sufficient ambient light in the room. Looking at a bright screen in a dark room won't help your eyesight.

[Mcninjaguy]

the people with eyesight problems must be using crappy CRT monitors not LCD monitors.

The really old ones give off a lot of radiation, the newer CRT monitors not so much

[eaglehound]

I've been using a LCD screen and playing maby 2 hours a day at least except on weekends when its more like 7. My eye-sight doesn't get worse and i have very good vision. After all nighters (so liek 12 hours) my eyes feel tired but my eye-sight is not worse. Btw, when playing farcry 2, your eyesight isnt going weird; the game designers just decided to piss you off my making it realistic with eye-sight changes due to brightness, i thought i had bad eye-sight XD.

[Mcninjaguy]

I like the realistic sun and how it blinds you in Far cry 2

[RockmasteR]

yes indeed Farcry 2 succeeded with that, and what about some games like Crysis and FEAR 2 when you zoom in, you eye sight blurs for a moment in distant areas and than it clears out, cool feature

[peterako]

who you gonna call? MYTHBUSTERS!!!!

[Mcninjaguy]

yep seriously someone needs to submit this to mythbusters



you're right Peterako

[Grant101]

i sometimes get a headache after prolonged gaming sessions (6+ hours)