VIDEO GAMES AND GAMING

Are video games harmful to your child’s eyes? Actually, no. Video games, instead of being harmful to your vision can be helpful. A recent study has shown that playing videos games can sharpen your child’s vision. Video games can help strengthen your child’s:

• Eye Movement Skills – Being able to move your eyes in all directions smoothly.

• Hand Eye Coordination – Simultaneous hand and eye movement.

• Visual Reaction Times – The time required to react to visual cues.

Tetris – From Russia with Fun

A recent survey at McGill University in Montreal has shown that playing the game “Tetris” can actually have positive benefits for Amblyopia. Amblyopia, a condition commonly referred to as Lazy Eye, is when one eye does not develop properly and does not work in conjunction with the other eye. It is estimated that 1 in 50 children are diagnosed with Amblyopia. The video game Tetris has been found to force both eyes to work together creating improvement in this condition.

Moderation is Key

Allow your children to play these games but monitor the time spent doing so. Hours in front of a video screen can cause headaches, eye strain and blurry vision. Remember to take regular breaks and keep at least 5 feet of distance between your children and the viewing screen.