Are You Spending Too Much Time On Your Playstation 5?

Do you play video games for several hours?  Does your school or work require you to be in front of a computer hour after hour?  You should know that high levels of exposure to digital technology for work, school, entertainment… basically everyday activities has created a set of symptoms known as Digital Eye Strain (DES).  Nearly 60% of Americans experience some symptoms of DES.

Digital Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome, is a combination of eye and vision problems caused by prolonged computer or digital device use. A patient suffering from DES may report tired eyes, dry eye, blurry vision, and headaches. While some patients may only experience mild symptoms, for others it can have major health implications.

Dr. Jason E. Compton recently participated in a nationwide campaign with the American Optometric Association (AOA) to help educate the American public about the dangers of this condition.  The campaign is called Eye Deserve More.  The focus is to take a stand that every American deserves in-person comprehensive care from an AOA doctor of optometry as part of their eye health and overall health and wellbeing.

Do you know Jordan Fisher?

Jordan participated with Dr. Compton within the Eye Deserve More campaign.  Jordan reports using screens frequently for work and for gaming.  From reading scripts to attending meetings he estimated that he’s AT LEAST on the screen for 7 hours daily.

“I play video games daily. I have for my entire life for as long as I can possibly remember. I don’t think there’s been a day that I haven’t played at least something on my phone. It’s such a necessary therapy for me.”– Jordan Fisher

Unfortunately, Jordan’s response is extremely common.  The American Optometric Association recently released a Gamer Survey which shows that the average gamer spends more than 8 hours a day on screens (an average 4.5 hrs. of those playing games) and 88% have experienced eye-related symptoms.   According to the AOA Gamer Survey, 52% of people who play video games have been diagnosed with an eye-related health issue. Half of gamers infrequently take breaks and 66% say they just use special settings on their device to reduce eye strain.

 “As a gamer myself, I know how easy it can be to get lost in a game. But there are simple things we can all do to safeguard our eye health.” – Dr. Jason E. Compton

As a gamer himself, Dr. Compton understands his gamer patients’ lifestyle and habits.  It is important for him to help them make the connection between screens and their symptoms such as dry eyes and headaches.

Contrary to popular belief, playing video games and using screens isn’t inherently bad for our eyes. However, patients and parents of patients who game should keep in mind that it’s also important to take steps to protect your eyes while using screens.  Our goal is to encourage people to get their eyes checked by a doctor of optometry offline so they can stay online and do more of the gaming, streaming, and scrolling they love.

While there are many things we can do on our screens, getting a comprehensive eye exam isn’t one of them.