Playing video games improves eyesight
by John Bardinelli 
{ Mar 16th 2007 at 9:27AM }
Contrary to what our parents used to say, new research claims that playing video games actually improves eyesight. Tests were conducted on two groups of non-gamers, one of which received 30 hours of "training" on fast-paced action games such as Lost Planet and Halo. This type of game pushes the human visual system to its limits, causing the brain to adapt and, well, level up your sense of spatial resolution, allowing you to see closely-packed objects more clearly.Unfortunately, playing Gears of War won't help you lose the contact lenses. Most visual problems have to do with the eye itself, whereas video games only benefit neurologically-related conditions.
But hey, an excuse to play video games is an excuse to play video games.
[Thanks, NoHitHair]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jack of No Trades @ Mar 16th 2007 9:36AM
Hardcore gamers are on top of the food chain. Better reflexes, better eye sight and fatter bellies.
Josh @ Mar 16th 2007 9:39AM
Wouldn't surprise me. I've spent on average several hours a day staring into either a TV or monitor for almost 2 decades, and I have 20/10 vision. You think I'd be legally blind at this point.
a dirty bastard @ Mar 16th 2007 10:08AM
@1
thats why u have to spend at least 30 mins with the eyetoy + kinetics game for ps2 i had it for two weeks and if already lost 10 pounds
ill recomend it to any one plus its real fun
Myke @ Mar 16th 2007 9:55AM
Wow, with how bitched my eyes are now after 15 years of gaming, I wonder how bad they would be if I had never touched a videogame in my life...
ALH @ Mar 16th 2007 10:02AM
yeah, makes sense TBH. Try going through a drought in gaming, or switching your preferred genre, the contrast between how much your eye has to take in at once can be insane.
Dan @ Mar 16th 2007 10:03AM
Was this study sponsored by a television manufacturer?
Farseer @ Mar 16th 2007 10:26AM
Thank you Jack, that was an awesome comment. :)
Farseer @ Mar 16th 2007 10:28AM
@6
To be honest, I think I'm missing out on something. I keep up with religious diet and exercise to stay in shape, but every week I hear about a new game that would do that for me. And to think that I've been working so hard...
Kye @ Mar 16th 2007 10:34AM
Does your actual sight increase? No
Does your visual awareness? Yes
I love games but you can up your visual awareness in a number of ways. But, yeah, why not play games? It's as much fun as you'll have.
Halo FTW
Jack of No Trades @ Mar 16th 2007 10:36AM
Its a slow day I have to do this.
"fast-paced action games such as Lost Planet and Halo."
That is why it is better to pick up a PS3/360 because the games on them require faster reflexes and advanced eye sight. The Wii on the other hand uses gestures instead of 1:1 motion which make gamers slack off and not use thier potential. After multiple uses of the Wii, the gamers will soon find themselves with a decrease in reflexes and eye sight. This will leave them incapable of competing with the gamers on the 360/PS3 and forces them to stay on the Wii and play against other handicapped(casual) gamers.
sheppy @ Mar 16th 2007 10:41AM
"thats why u have to spend at least 30 mins with the eyetoy + kinetics game for ps2 i had it for two weeks and if already lost 10 pounds
ill recomend it to any one plus its real fun"
I tried it, tracking was shit and I didn't have the room for it. Back when I was hardcore into DDR and Pump It Up (always preferred the pump), I used to be able to play for 3 hours before fatigue would finally grab me.
Yesterday I did my first workout in a long, long time. 30 minute on an elliptical, 30 minutes on a tread, 30 minutes on a bike. God I am out of shape.
Crono @ Mar 16th 2007 10:57AM
You're out of shape!?!?!? I can hardly do 10 minutes on an exercise bike. Chasing the dog around the house for 3 minutes gets me very winded.
And the most puzzling part: I'm not a lardass. I'm 5'10" and only weigh somewhere between 140-160 pounds.
I'm gonna have a heart attack at 35.