Video games improve eyesight?

[Stripes]

Link

SINGAPORE, Feb 7 (Reuters Life!) - Video game addicts, rejoice: U.S. researchers have found that playing is actually good for your eyes, and despite all those dire warnings from your parents, it won't make you blind.

A study by the University of Rochester showed that people who played action video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month improved their vision by about 20 percent.

"Action video game play changes the way our brains process visual information," Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences, said in the study published on the university's Web site, www.rochester.edu, on Tuesday.

"These games push the human visual system to the limits and the brain adapts to it. That learning carries over into other activities and possibly everyday life."

Bavelier and a graduate student tested college students who had played very few, if any, video games in the last year.

Test subjects were given an eye test similar to the one used at regular eye clinics and then divided into two groups -- one played shoot-em-up action games for an hour a day while the control group played a less visually complex game.

Their vision was tested after the study, with those who played the action game scoring better in the eye test.

The researchers said their findings could help patients with several types of visual defects.

I for one am quite doubtful. I'd have to see these experiments conducted myself, because my eyesight has gotten progressively worse since I started playing video games.

[Kirkendall]

I can see their logic though.. when you play a video game, mostly those intense first person shooters, or those puzzle like games (original Resident Evil), your eyes focus on the unusual and the minor things. I don't know if your eyesight improves, but your focus probably stands to benefit.

Just a thought...

[BlainThePain]

I'd also be interested in who funded the study. I wouldn't doubt if it was Microsoft.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I for one am quite doubtful. I'd have to see these experiments conducted myself, because my eyesight has gotten progressively worse since I started playing video games.

I am too. If playing video games did in fact improve eyesight, I wouldn't be shopping for glasses like those below right now!

[SteelerFan87]

I'd say games improve your brain's ability to notice things and process information quickly, and in that way they're beneficial, but the mere act of staring at a screen for too long is damaging to your eyes. Thus, playing for short periods of time and then resting your eyes is probably the best way to go.

[BengalszoneBilly]

playing for short periods of time and then resting your eyes is probably the best way to go.

I wonder if this would also be good advice for when viewing internet porn? It's easy to become fixated on objects there as well!

[Kirkendall]

playing for short periods of time and then resting your eyes is probably the best way to go.

I wonder if this would also be good advice for when viewing internet porn? It's easy to become fixated on objects there as well!

Billy, that's why you have to wear the glasses.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Billy, that's why you have to wear the glasses.

Tell me something I don't know Josh!

[Thurmanation]

lol, i guess my eyes are going to be bad when im older..i play way too much madden with my friends for them not to be

[Brian]

Link

SINGAPORE, Feb 7 (Reuters Life!) - Video game addicts, rejoice: U.S. researchers have found that playing is actually good for your eyes, and despite all those dire warnings from your parents, it won't make you blind.

A study by the University of Rochester showed that people who played action video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month improved their vision by about 20 percent.

"Action video game play changes the way our brains process visual information," Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences, said in the study published on the university's Web site, www.rochester.edu, on Tuesday.

"These games push the human visual system to the limits and the brain adapts to it. That learning carries over into other activities and possibly everyday life."

Bavelier and a graduate student tested college students who had played very few, if any, video games in the last year.

Test subjects were given an eye test similar to the one used at regular eye clinics and then divided into two groups -- one played shoot-em-up action games for an hour a day while the control group played a less visually complex game.

Their vision was tested after the study, with those who played the action game scoring better in the eye test.

The researchers said their findings could help patients with several types of visual defects.

I for one am quite doubtful. I'd have to see these experiments conducted myself, because my eyesight has gotten progressively worse since I started playing video games.

I dont know about video games helping your sight.. But your sig is making my eyes better!