The rise of eSports has been one of the biggest success stories in recent years. The video games industry is only getting bigger. But there are some limitations players need to be aware of. New medical research has brought some striking facts to the limelight. There’s a newly coined term ‘video game vision’ that you need to be aware of. 

According to survey data from August 2023, the world currently has over 3 billion active video gamers across the globe. While the numbers speak to the influence of the video game industry, recent research suggests this ongoing surge might lead to the beginning of a major health issue that could affect 200 million gamers across the world. 

What is Video Game Vision?

Dr. Edmund Farris, an associate professor of medicine at Quinnipiac University, has been studying the impact of video games on individuals and the conclusion shows worrying signs for the players. All the claims made through the research should motivate players to make some changes to their gaming schedule. The research report submitted by the professor claims prolonged video game screen time might develop ‘dry eyes.’

For those unaware, the dry eyes issue is currently a growing health concern in the United States. It is a condition in which human eyes cannot produce enough functional aqueous, making the surface of the eye unhealthy and prone to irritation and infection. To understand the impact of video game screen time on an individual’s eyes, the professor and his team conducted an experiment with 41 students under controlled environments and temperatures. 

As reported by nbcconnecticut, Dr Edmund Farris said, “We had them play games basically on computers for 4 hours straight. We limited their intake of fluids and we controlled for humidity and for temperature during this study.”

They kept all these 41 students under observation while they played video games for four straight hours. During the short 4-hour experiment, the symptoms of dry eyes for the players increased 2-3 fold, as reported by the professor. Another factor that adds to the concern is the fact that, while gaming, players tend to blink less, which decreases the relaxation time for the human eye. So, this means prolonged gaming sessions might make you a lot more prone to dry eye issues or, as the doctor now calls it, ‘Video Game Vision’. The doctor also suggested that all gamers facing symptoms of vision should get medical assistance as soon as possible. 

Symptoms and possible solutions to avoid the issue 

Most of the symptoms are directly associated with the human eye and aren’t too hard to observe. 

• Redness of the eye.
• Irritation and eye discomfort
• Eye fatigue and inflammation around the cornea 

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There are some tips you can follow to avoid Video Game Vision. Staying hydrated is apparently one important aspect of making your body resistant to the ailment. Further, the doctor highly advised some breaks between gaming sessions and preferably including some physical exercises. Overall, awareness in the industry is the key to tackling the potential threat that might spoil the party for a lot of young gaming enthusiasts.

So, before you prepare a gaming schedule for the next week, make sure to keep the doctor’s pointers in mind! 

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