Can Video Games Worsen Eyesight?

No, all scientific studies correlating extended screentime with any visual impairment are yet to establish a causal link. Playing video games, or in general, being exposed to LED screens has been a convenient scapegoat as the one causing myopia among children. It is premature to arrive at the conclusion that screen time leads to myopia, as it is found that genetics plays a significant part in developing it. In fact, studying and less time spent outdoors are major risk factors for developing near-sightedness.

Myopia, more popularly known as near-sightedness, is a visual impairment in which light focuses not in front of the retina but instead on it. This makes distant objects from the person blurry and nearer items appear clear.

A systematic analysis of several studies regarding the relationship between exposure to screens and myopia established no clear association between them, be it myopia prevalence, incidence, or progression[1]Lanca C, Saw SM. The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020 Mar;40(2):216-229.. It has been shown that myopia prevalence in Asia was already high before the introduction of digital devices. In fact, myopia incidence increases exponentially in persons who study and goes to school without significant exposure to screens.

In Singapore in the 1980s, myopia prevalence increased when digital devices were not yet prevalent. Digital devices with screens only had their ubiquity 30 years thereon[2]Saw S-M, Chua W-H, Hong C-Y et al. Nearwork in early-onset myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002; 43: 332–339.. In Taiwan, it was found that a high prevalence of myopia was present in children with low exposure to screens. [3]Lin LLK, Shih YF, Hsiao CK & Chen CJ. Prevalence of myopia in Taiwanese schoolchildren: 1983 to 2000. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004; 33: 27–33. Myopia cases had been rising even before the introduction of tablets and smartphones.

Studying has been connected to developing myopia even before the arrival of tablets.
Photo by Dip Devices on Unsplash

Although it is still undeniable the negative effects of excessive use of gadgets with screens on children, in their sleep patterns, low physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.

References

References
1 Lanca C, Saw SM. The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020 Mar;40(2):216-229.
2 Saw S-M, Chua W-H, Hong C-Y et al. Nearwork in early-onset myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002; 43: 332–339.
3 Lin LLK, Shih YF, Hsiao CK & Chen CJ. Prevalence of myopia in Taiwanese schoolchildren: 1983 to 2000. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004; 33: 27–33.

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