Are Video Games Good for the Eyes?
Computer and video games in which the player becomes an action hero act as a training ground for the eye: it learns to differentiate contrasts more accurately.
There are many legitimate objections to action-packed computer and video games, at least when the player experiences and uses virtual violence.
Scientists at the University of Rochester in New York State have now also been able to find a silver lining in these games: they train eye perception that was previously considered unchangeable.
Those who play a lot improve their ability to distinguish shades of gray by more than 50 percent.
However, video games can also lead to many eye problems.
Let’s take a deeper look.
How Video Games can improve Vision
It has been proven that playing video games for a long time improves vision.
When we play, we are attentive to every movement and even the smallest details, so much so that when we are focused on the game, we forget what is happening around us.
We are so entertained that we have eyes only for the game.
That's why by playing 7 to 12 hours a day, our vision levels are above the normal average.
We adapt our vision and because of the time our vision gets used to and ends up adapting naturally to the fast movement of the eyes.
So, to improve your vision, just do a marathon of gaming, remembering that the study was based on people who have been playing for a while. There is no point in starting playing 3 hours a day for 5 days now to increase your vision level.
How Video Games can be Dangerous for the Eyes
We will not go into scientific details, but it is important to understand how our eyes react to the screens of our video games.
All the screens we usually use (LED, LCD..) have a specific light that can be harmful for our eyes: Blue Light.
The blue component of light between 380 and 500 nm is also known as high energy visible light (HEV). In particular, the blue-violet wavelengths between 380 and 440 nm are considered potentially harmful and are considered one of the possible causes of photoretinitis, which is damage to the retina caused by incident high-energy light.
Blue light can be divided into two types:
- Turquoise blue light - which makes us feel good
- Violet blue light - which is bad
Here are the main differences between them:
Benefits of turquoise blue light
Turquoise blue light is good blue light for our eyes and is emitted by the sun's rays.
Good blue light contributes to the production of vitamin D for our body, in addition to helping regulate our circadian cycle.
It is nothing more than our body's natural sleep cycle, where the variation of light influences our behavior throughout the day or night.
In other words, exposure to blue light during the day helps maintain a healthy sleep cycle. When we are exposed to natural blue light (sunlight), our bodies also release hormones.
One of these hormones is serotonin, which is responsible for the feeling of happiness and well-being. Thus, when serotonin is released, we feel more active and willing.
Damage of violet blue light
Violet blue light is harmful to the eyes and is emitted by electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, TVs, LED lamps, among others.
This light can seriously damage our vision and sleep. This happens because blue violet light blocks our production of the hormone melatonin. This hormone is responsible for sending the message to our body that it is time to sleep.
So when we use our cell phones before bed or fiddle with the computer or any other digital screen, we are sending a message to our bodies that it is still light out and this can prevent us from getting a good night's sleep.
As a result, other problems such as insomnia, for example, can occur.
How to Keep our Eyes Protected
Scientists point out that the excess of blue light will lead, in the coming decades, to an increase in the number of eye diseases and their early appearance.
Never as in this case, prevention is essential. Since we can not do without digital devices, how to keep our eyes protected from the harmful effects while playing video games?
- make a moderate use of TV screens, PCs, smartphones and tablets, as far as possible, with regular breaks.
- avoid using them in the evening, especially before going to bed.
- adjust the brightness of screens.
Among the recommendations, it is also suggested to opt for a pair of blue light blocking glasses.
This particular type of glasses has been widely used in general gaming equipment in recent years. These blue light blocking glasses, also called gaming glasses, are able to block a certain amount of blue light to constantly protect our eyes.
Blue light blocking glasses are perfect for your eyes when playing video games.