Playing video games can causeeye strain,irritation, focusing issues, and more. It’s important to protect your eyes if you play video games often.
This article explains some of the reasons why your eyes may hurt after playing video games. It also covers how to prevent eye strain from gaming.
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Keratitis: Overview
Research has shown that prolonged gaming without significant breaks can cause eye focus issues.
Easy Solutions for Screen-Related Eye Issues
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)
Individuals who spend a lot of time on a computer or other screens can develop specific problems with their eyesight, and in some cases, a condition calledcomputer vision syndrome (CVS).
Both children and adults can get computer vision syndrome.
The signs of CVS include:
Individuals who already have problems with their eyesight are at an increased risk of getting this condition.
Focus Problems
If youreyes hurtfrom playing video games, you might also have problems focusing your eyes. When looking at a screen, the eyes constantly change focus, making them very tired.
Playing video games makes the eyes “lock up.“This may make it difficult for the eyes to focus easily on other objects, even long after the video game is turned off.
Eye Strain: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Eye Irritation
Video games can cause eye irritation and dryness, especially if you play for a long time without taking breaks.
You may blink less frequently while absorbed in a video game or other screen use.Not blinking enough can affect the flow oftears, and can lead tored, dry, and irritated eyes.
Dry Eyes in Children
How Can I Protect My Eyes While Gaming?
There are steps you can take to help protect your eyes while you play video games.
Here are a few ways to reduce eye strain and protect your vision while gaming:
There is a lack of evidence that supports the use of blue-light filtering glasses for eye strain.
Tips for Reducing Eye Strain
Summary
Playing video games can affect vision. Gaming for a long time can lead to eye strain, eye irritation, and even computer vision syndrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn MoreWhat Is Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD)?
Yes. Using screens for a long time without taking breaks can cause eye strain.
Eye health experts recommend not playing video games for more than three hours in a single day.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yin K, Zi Y, Zhuang W, et al.Linking Esports to health risks and benefits: Current knowledge and future research needs.J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(6):485-488. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2020.04.006American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.Mylona I, Deres ES, Dere GDS, Tsinopoulos I, Glynatsis M.The impact of internet and videogaming addiction on adolescent vision: a review of the literature.Front Public Health. 2020;8:63. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00063Randolph SA.Computer vision syndrome.Workplace Health Saf. 2017;65(7):328. doi:10.1177/2165079917712727Munshi S, Varghese A, Dhar-Munshi S.Computer vision syndrome-A common cause of unexplained visual symptoms in the modern era.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(7). doi:10.1111/ijcp.12962American Academy of Pediatrics.Give your child’s eyes a screen-time break: Here’s why.Lee JW, Cho HG, Moon BY, Kim SY, Yu DS.Effects of prolonged continuous computer gaming on physical and ocular symptoms and binocular vision functions in young healthy individuals.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7050. doi:10.7717/peerj.7050American Academy of Ophthalmology.Should you be worried about blue light?East West Eye Institute.Do video games hurt your eyes?.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yin K, Zi Y, Zhuang W, et al.Linking Esports to health risks and benefits: Current knowledge and future research needs.J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(6):485-488. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2020.04.006American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.Mylona I, Deres ES, Dere GDS, Tsinopoulos I, Glynatsis M.The impact of internet and videogaming addiction on adolescent vision: a review of the literature.Front Public Health. 2020;8:63. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00063Randolph SA.Computer vision syndrome.Workplace Health Saf. 2017;65(7):328. doi:10.1177/2165079917712727Munshi S, Varghese A, Dhar-Munshi S.Computer vision syndrome-A common cause of unexplained visual symptoms in the modern era.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(7). doi:10.1111/ijcp.12962American Academy of Pediatrics.Give your child’s eyes a screen-time break: Here’s why.Lee JW, Cho HG, Moon BY, Kim SY, Yu DS.Effects of prolonged continuous computer gaming on physical and ocular symptoms and binocular vision functions in young healthy individuals.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7050. doi:10.7717/peerj.7050American Academy of Ophthalmology.Should you be worried about blue light?East West Eye Institute.Do video games hurt your eyes?.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yin K, Zi Y, Zhuang W, et al.Linking Esports to health risks and benefits: Current knowledge and future research needs.J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(6):485-488. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2020.04.006American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.Mylona I, Deres ES, Dere GDS, Tsinopoulos I, Glynatsis M.The impact of internet and videogaming addiction on adolescent vision: a review of the literature.Front Public Health. 2020;8:63. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00063Randolph SA.Computer vision syndrome.Workplace Health Saf. 2017;65(7):328. doi:10.1177/2165079917712727Munshi S, Varghese A, Dhar-Munshi S.Computer vision syndrome-A common cause of unexplained visual symptoms in the modern era.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(7). doi:10.1111/ijcp.12962American Academy of Pediatrics.Give your child’s eyes a screen-time break: Here’s why.Lee JW, Cho HG, Moon BY, Kim SY, Yu DS.Effects of prolonged continuous computer gaming on physical and ocular symptoms and binocular vision functions in young healthy individuals.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7050. doi:10.7717/peerj.7050American Academy of Ophthalmology.Should you be worried about blue light?East West Eye Institute.Do video games hurt your eyes?.
Yin K, Zi Y, Zhuang W, et al.Linking Esports to health risks and benefits: Current knowledge and future research needs.J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(6):485-488. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2020.04.006
American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.
Mylona I, Deres ES, Dere GDS, Tsinopoulos I, Glynatsis M.The impact of internet and videogaming addiction on adolescent vision: a review of the literature.Front Public Health. 2020;8:63. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00063
Randolph SA.Computer vision syndrome.Workplace Health Saf. 2017;65(7):328. doi:10.1177/2165079917712727
Munshi S, Varghese A, Dhar-Munshi S.Computer vision syndrome-A common cause of unexplained visual symptoms in the modern era.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(7). doi:10.1111/ijcp.12962
American Academy of Pediatrics.Give your child’s eyes a screen-time break: Here’s why.
Lee JW, Cho HG, Moon BY, Kim SY, Yu DS.Effects of prolonged continuous computer gaming on physical and ocular symptoms and binocular vision functions in young healthy individuals.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7050. doi:10.7717/peerj.7050
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Should you be worried about blue light?
East West Eye Institute.Do video games hurt your eyes?.
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