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So what is with all this business of video games ruining eyesight? Was it just a scare tactic or Is there some scientific background to it?
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that our Eye sight is better than our parents, due to all the games we played as children.
Not to mention our hand-eye co-ordination.
Thanks Veedyo gaems!
Not to mention our hand-eye co-ordination.
Thanks Veedyo gaems!
@KalosBlue
I would suspect it's different for everyone, but in the very least, doing any hobby that involves a backlit screen for an excessive amount in an unhealthy situation (ie. playing video games for 4 hours straight at night with the lights turned off while only 2 feet away from the TV screen) may impact one's eyesight. I know as a kid my eyesight went straight to shit as soon as I discovered that I could read books and play as much video games as I wanted as long as I did it at night with the lights off, and since I had to keep the volume low, I had to get really close to the TV...
Probably not the best decision as a kid, but despite my terrible eyesight, I have damn good hand-eye coordination.
I would suspect it's different for everyone, but in the very least, doing any hobby that involves a backlit screen for an excessive amount in an unhealthy situation (ie. playing video games for 4 hours straight at night with the lights turned off while only 2 feet away from the TV screen) may impact one's eyesight. I know as a kid my eyesight went straight to shit as soon as I discovered that I could read books and play as much video games as I wanted as long as I did it at night with the lights off, and since I had to keep the volume low, I had to get really close to the TV...
Probably not the best decision as a kid, but despite my terrible eyesight, I have damn good hand-eye coordination.
"Good evening, I'm from Essex - in case you couldn't tell. My given name is Dickie, I come from Billericay... and I'm doing VERY WELL."
Reminds me of a story about 15 - 20 years ago in Nintendo Power. Kid had bad eyes, but by playing NES all the time, his eyesight got better. Doctors couldn't believe it.
I was waiting for Dtoid to report this, but I was kind of hoping Sterling would have found it first. Oh well, Razak is good too.
@Gee-Man Actually it's an old wives tale from back when TV's first came out. Due to the lack of knowledge at these times in medical science for eyes or TVs or even general knowledge in the public it was thought that when a child lost some of their eyesight it was related to the new TV they had just purchased. This continues to this day unfettered due to how ingrained it is in society. It even goes so far as to confuse EYE DOCTORS, yes, but fortunately it has no premise. In fact reading in low light has no effect on your vision or watching TV for that matter.
Rather in fact, the reason a child would move closer and closer to a television was because his eye sight was getting bad (minus the television), so dun dun daaaaa he would move closer to the TV, but when parents saw this they blamed the TV.
It's been almost 100 years and this notion is still around.
So far in recent research the only corresponding result from watching TV in the dark is possibly getting tired enough to want to fall asleep, this results in a person rubbing their eyes, yawning, ect,. This would also explain why some have a hard time concentrating after such an event.
Don't fret however lots of people perpetuate this myth, and the SOB will never die.
Rather in fact, the reason a child would move closer and closer to a television was because his eye sight was getting bad (minus the television), so dun dun daaaaa he would move closer to the TV, but when parents saw this they blamed the TV.
It's been almost 100 years and this notion is still around.
So far in recent research the only corresponding result from watching TV in the dark is possibly getting tired enough to want to fall asleep, this results in a person rubbing their eyes, yawning, ect,. This would also explain why some have a hard time concentrating after such an event.
Don't fret however lots of people perpetuate this myth, and the SOB will never die.
For this kind of medical problem, I would have recommended EyeToy instead! Hiyo!
...Yeah, I'll show myself out.
...Yeah, I'll show myself out.
Old news. I have amblyopia and used an eye-patch while playing an Atari 2600 system or a Commodore 64 (pre-NES days) when I was young. It helped.
It happened to my brother too and his eyesight got better playing Dreamcast, Genesis and the giant brick gameboy games all day. Now he got better than normal eyesight
Damn, I have amblyopia and when I was young I did have the eyepatch thing, but I didn't get the videogames bit, and my right eye still sees really bad. If only I'd be born 25 years later...
"en's mother claims that his eyesight has improved 250 percent since he started playing Mario Kart and that his ability to hit a bitch with a green shell from three places behind has skyrocketed up 1 bajillion percent."
Thats called some muhfuckin science right there.
Thats called some muhfuckin science right there.
"...and that his ability to hit a bitch with a green shell from three places behind has skyrocketed up 1 bajillion percent."
Probably the best thing I'll read all day.
Probably the best thing I'll read all day.
Sitting too close to the TV does hurt your eyes. This kid was on a DS, so the smaller screen and reduced strain couldn't have adversely impacted him.
@Volomon
That was an interesting and informative explanation. I actually know that for the most part, video games=bad eyesight is BS but you hear so many anecdotes, you can't help but wonder who's right. Hell, just look at how many gamers happen to wear glasses. Still doesn't explain how my eyesight got worse after I started reading with dim lights and playing video games in the dark though. Highly convenient occurance I suppose?
That was an interesting and informative explanation. I actually know that for the most part, video games=bad eyesight is BS but you hear so many anecdotes, you can't help but wonder who's right. Hell, just look at how many gamers happen to wear glasses. Still doesn't explain how my eyesight got worse after I started reading with dim lights and playing video games in the dark though. Highly convenient occurance I suppose?
Nice to see a human interest story about videogames that doesn't involve murder or suicide. (Seriously, more of these please)
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