How to protect your eyesight when playing video games?

Ah, screens! They now take up a huge part of our lives, whether we are young or old. Over the past few years, video games have become one of our favourite hobbies! And unfortunately, our eyes don’t always appreciate it… (and neither do parents who are tired of it). Don’t worry, we’re not here to lecture you, we’re going to share our tips to protect your eyes during your best gaming sessions.

What are the risks of video games on eyesight?

For nearly 70 years, video games have continued to evolve, with more and more consoles being created and games becoming increasingly realistic. But what impact do they really have on our eyesight?

Screens at the heart of the risks

Beyond the video game itself, the screen displaying it is the main culprit! The hours you spend looking at screens can cause various issues such as:

- Dry eyes or eye strain: Yes, when you are in front of screens, you blink much less, which quickly dries out your eyes.

- Eye damage

- Ophthalmic migraines

- Even certain conditions such as AMD (age-related macular degeneration)

Eye problems linked to video games

Your game requires maximum concentration and active, sometimes constant, attention! And this is where the danger of video games lies. You may also develop what is known as Computer Vision Syndrome, also called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). It affects your eyes but also your neck, particularly your cervical area.

Tips to protect your eyesight from video games

Choose the right equipment to protect yourself

There are plenty of accessories designed specifically for gaming, so adding one more item to protect your eyes from video games isn’t such a big deal, right? You can adopt new accessories and adapt your current setup!

There is ONE item that could really save your eyes! Gaming glasses! They feature a blue light filter and a design often created to reduce airflow around your eyes, helping to limit dryness caused by reduced blinking.

As mentioned earlier, the goal is also to protect yourself from screens themselves! To do this, don’t hesitate to apply a blue light filter directly to your screen!

Adopt the right habits

Still experiencing itchy eyes after all that? Unfortunately, your equipment can’t do everything! To take care of your eyes, it is essential to adopt the right habits when using screens and gaming! Here’s a quick recap, don’t forget to:

- Take breaks

- Keep some distance from your screen

- Follow the 20-20-20 rule (a break every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds while looking at something 20 feet away = 6 metres)

- Reduce brightness/adjust your computer or screen settings