Off Topic: The Flood
This topic has moved here: Subject: Video games will make me go blind?... I think not
  • Subject: Video games will make me go blind?... I think not
Subject: Video games will make me go blind?... I think not

You Reak of Death!

Have you ever spent a couple of hours (days in some people’s case) gaming, reading forum posts, or programming and it seems that your screen just isn’t as sharp as it should be, your eyes are red, itching, burning, or maybe a combination of all four? Well this post is going to shed a little light on that and maybe help you get a little more quality gaming time in.

I am a fourth year Optometry student (Eye doctor for those who have never heard the term) finishing up my residencies, and when I have time Halo 3 junkie. I am not a doctor ( at least for another 2 months) so the information I am giving you is not meant to be general diagnosis for anyone just some educated tips for things that you can do to better improve your eye health and gaming comfort. If you have concerns or questions about your eyesight you should ask your eye care provider or family doctor.

First things first, a normal person blinks on average about 12 to 15 times per min, gamers on the other hand blink significantly less (5-8 times per min). This is the main problem. Your cornea (the clear part at the front of the eye) receives the majority of its oxygen from yours tears while you’re awake. Without blinking properly to wet your eyes you are not receiving enough oxygen which in turn causes the cornea to swell slightly, and there is your blurry TV screen. The improper wetting also causes dry eye which can cause redness, burning, and/or itching. For those of you who wear contact lenses this can be a greater problem since your contact lenses already block some of the oxygen to the cornea. (Especially when you wear them for longer than you’re supposed to…you know who you are) Another thing that can contribute to this is gaming with wind blowing directly in your face. i.e. Air conditioner, fan, etc. I, for example play with a fan blowing right on me so my eyes get dried out pretty quick. There are a lot of ways to help relieve some of these problems. The first being not to game for too long…yeah right. Second would be to use some kind of artificial tears. There are tons on the market that you can buy over the counter and they have instructions for use in the box. I like to put my drops in before I start gaming if I know that I’m going to be playing awhile and then as needed if I start to feel uncomfortable. My suggestion is to look into one that is best for your problem, and try to stay away from ones that have Preservatives, or ones that say, ”Gets rid of redness” these contain other chemicals rather than just being an artificial tear, and could cause mild allergic reactions in some cases. If you are worried about the redness and it won’t go away with the use of artificial tears or getting some sleep you might need to see a doctor.

The second reason for that blurry screen could be that your eyes are just tired. For all intents and purposes, infinity to your eyes is anything past 20 feet / 6 meters. I don’t know many people with a living room, bedroom, or family room that is 20 feet long so I would assume most people play closer than 20 feet to their TV. When your looking at the TV your eyes are “flexing” a muscle to keep it in focus. So just like any other muscle it can get tired. Try not to look at the screen constantly. While a games is loading get up walk around, look outside/ across the room, or even close your eyes to give your muscles a little rest.

Another reason for the blurry screen could be that you just need some glasses or contact lenses. Go see an optometrist! You see a dentist every year to check your teeth, why not get your eyes checked every year too. Wouldn’t it be great to see the food you’re chewing with your pretty white teeth?

Ok so I hope that some of this will help you gamers and computer users to have a more comfortable and healthier time gaming.

  • 03.07.2008 6:11 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Wow my eyes hurt, not from your long informative post which I did read but from the fact that the computer screen is about 2 1/2 feet from my face. I really need glasses.

  • 03.07.2008 6:45 PM PDT

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if it was presidents day?

That post did more damage to my eyes than video games.

  • 03.07.2008 6:47 PM PDT

My logic is undeniable.
the.dredwerkz@gmail.com
e-mail me about anything.
Don't send me group invites.

We ought to compile a realistic health advice thread on here. The game cases rekon to only play for 45 minutes, yeah right and I have a pink fluffy tail. Dehydration by 5 percent can impair your reactions and physical performance greatly.

  • 03.07.2008 6:50 PM PDT

I... wear my contacts for 3 days at a time!!!

There, I admitted it.

  • 03.07.2008 6:59 PM PDT
  • gamertag: KRPAN
  • user homepage:

Some days I play so much I think my eyes are going to start bleeding

  • 03.07.2008 7:01 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Hmm, I did not know that about the swelling of the eye and blurriness. Thank you for the information, good Sir. ^_^

  • 03.07.2008 7:07 PM PDT

You Reak of Death!

Your welcome to whom ever said thank you for the post. To all the others who are just trying to start an argument please realize that this post is solely meant to inform you of things that you can do to improve your eye health and increase your comfort during gaming to allow you to have a more enjoyable time playing.

  • 03.07.2008 10:16 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I have cataracts so no matter what I do to my eyes (short of gouging them out), I'm still going to have to cut them open and replace my lens. Fun!

  • 03.07.2008 10:18 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

uh...staring at screen 5 feet from you+20 hour gaming=eye vision nuked beyond LASIK help

  • 03.07.2008 10:19 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: Reiginko
Good to see at least somebody takes this place seriously

I am sincerely disappointed in everyone except JIMH. JIMH, have a gold star.


',:\ IF YA SAHMELLLL

Sure, you say that now, but when I go blind I am totally suing your ass.

  • 03.07.2008 10:20 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I do agree that most gamers dont blink as often as they should. being a gamer myself i tend to blik less when i play games, even though i try. it may not be the games fault, as some people might assume. the solution could be as simple as training yourself to blink more when you are playing games or watching tv or a computer screen.

  • 03.08.2008 1:17 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Im going to buy artificial tears drops at my next LAN and do what you said about the loading times.

I need to know how to stay up late with out feeling like crap now lol.

Thanks good post

  • 03.08.2008 1:24 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

i guess tear drops are a good temporary relief. you should ask somebody about the long term effects though. i heard they can eventualy be bad for your eyes

  • 03.08.2008 1:28 AM PDT

You Reak of Death!

artificial tears are just that artificial tears. Like I said in the post you need to stay away from the ones with preservatives or other chemicals in them. If you find one that is PF (preservative free) is the best. Another thing to stay away from is the gels, these are usually for right before you go to sleep because its a gel so it can make your vision blurred for 5 - 10 min after putting them in. As far as long term problems of artificial tear use I do not know any off hand but thank you for the post I'm going to research that. And as far a when to use the drops. On most of the bottles it will say something like 3-4 times a day or as needed. I would say if you are going to be pulling a 12+ hour lan party I would put them in before i start playing, and every 1-2 hours after that.

  • 03.08.2008 5:50 AM PDT

Posted by: ZantKiller1
Posted by: Gandalf
The only pain worse than is is got to be childbirth.

Or giving birth to a baby made of lego.

Very informative post. Too bad it was a wall of text. Oh well, I read the whole thing anyway. Thanks for posting. I'll use this information tonight when me and my friend pull an all-nighter.

*Edit* Congrats on being on your way to being a doctor. You're going to make a lot of money. Good for you.

[Edited on 03.08.2008 6:29 AM PST]

  • 03.08.2008 6:13 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

tl;dr summary please

  • 03.08.2008 6:34 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

yea you do need to see the ingredients of the artificial eye drops. just like everything els anything that has just about everything in it being chemicals in it, it will probibaly hurt you in the long run.

  • 03.08.2008 5:01 PM PDT