Gaming is one activity that hooks both kids and adults. Games like Fortnite and Call of Duty are such raging hits that a lot of people spent their lockdown hours playing them. While we agree that video games can be a great source of fun, you can not neglect what they do to your eyes.
Whether you play games on your PC, computer or tablet, you are putting your eye health at risk. The screens of these devices emit blue light that penetrates your eyes and degenerates the retina. While this causes temporary eye strain in the short run, it also has the potential of leading to a much bigger problem, for instance, cataracts or macular degeneration.
But, things don’t have to be this way. Your eyes don’t have to pay for your fun. Here is what you can do to protect your eyes while you are playing video games.
Adjust the lighting
If your screen light is too dark, your eyes will be straining to see. On the other hand, if it’s too bright, you’ll be squinting to see the screen. When you are gaming, make sure your screen light is set at the optimum level.
Also, consider your room lighting. If you are playing in a dark room, your eyes will get tired from shifting focus whenever you look away from the screen.
Make sure that the windows are neither in front of you nor behind you as it will cause glare. To protect your eyes from the glare caused by the bright lights, wear anti-reflective glasses. You can also choose to add this coating to your prescription glasses.
Take breaks from the screen
This one seems too obvious, right? And it works too. Taking a break from your screen from time to time works well towards reducing the effects of blue light on your eyes.
You can step away from your screen and take a walk around the room. Scratch your body to relax it a little after you’ve been in the same position for some time. Do not sit too close to the screen as it will only increase the risk of eye strain. Follow the 20-20-20 rule and look away for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes. This will make sure that you don’t become myopic from all that close-up screen viewing.
Use protective eyewear
No matter how much we tell you to take regular screen breaks, it’s easy to forget this simple rule when the game is too intense. In this case, protective eyewear will help. Consider wearing gaming glasses that have advanced filters on their lenses. They are capable of absorbing the blue light and eliminating glare.
When you wear these glasses, you won’t get eye strain no matter how much screen time you indulge in. however, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to mind your screen habits. You can consult your optician or optometrist to know more about these glasses and their benefits.
Get regular eye exams
Whether you do gaming for fun or profession, you have to make sure that your habit hasn’t taken a toll on your eye health. If you experience even a slight change in your eyesight or the eye strain persists, you should see an optometrist at once. Maybe your eyesight has weakened or your prescription has changed.
In this case, the optometrist will write you a prescription and you can get glasses from an optician or an online store. If you buy online prescription glasses, don’t forget to get a free home trial for glasses first. When you are assured of the quality, only then proceed to make a purchase.
Blink more
It is a well-known fact that when we are looking at a screen, our blinking rate decreases. This strips our ocular surface of moisture leaving it dry and irritated. The easiest trick to keep your eyes lubricated is to blink more often. You may as well use prescription eye drops or artificial tears to maintain the optimum moisture level.
One more benefit of lubricating your eyes is that it forms a thin tear film on the surface that keeps blue light from passing through.
If you are a professional video gamer and stream your gaming sessions, wearing glasses doesn’t have to come in the way of your looks or style. There are so many stylish glasses for men that you can protect your eyes while looking chic.
Video games are getting more popular day by day. But it’s important to know the dark side of screen time and take steps towards better eye health. If you are experiencing any kind of vision issue, schedule an appointment with your optometrist at once.
