Eye Care and Gaming: How the Two Industries Are Banding Together for Eye Health

Gamers are constantly searching for the best gaming experiences. Challenging gameplay, 100% uptime, and clear interfaces are some of the elements they expect from a video. However, the gaming experience may be hampered not by the game but by the gamer’s vision. Eye health has become a significant concern in gaming, especially since gamers are often exposed to bright screens and blue light when playing. To combat the negative effects of gaming on vision, the eye health and eyewear industries are taking advantage of the medium to target gamers and encourage proper eye care. The worlds of gaming and eye health might seem like an unlikely pairing since they operate in vastly different fields. However, these industries are increasingly finding common ground in the fight for better eye health. Here’s how eye care and gaming are banding together to promote eye health to gamers:

Eye health games

With medical associations becoming more concerned about the eye health of gamers, they’re now taking advantage of the medium to promote proper eye care. The American Optometric Association (AOA) released a free mobile game called Blink Land to raise awareness of eye care for players. The game uses quizzes and in-game challenges, provides cues to remember to blink, and gives tips to avoid eye strain, like the 20-20-20 rule, which involves taking a break from screens every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away or 20 seconds. Gaming has increased in popularity over the past few years, yet not many gamers get the professional eye care they need. The AOA hopes that Blink Land will encourage more people to visit eye doctors and get regular eye exams to minimize the impact of gaming on vision.

Gaming-focused eyewear

Gamers spend long hours looking at screens, which can cause eye strain, headaches, or blurred vision without the right protection. As such, eyewear companies are diving into gaming-focused eyewear, specifically made with their unique needs in mind. Eyewear giant Oakley has released gamer-related eyewear that comes with all the cutting-edge technology and expert craftsmanship present in all their shades. The brand is a huge name in sports and lifestyle sunglasses, with models like the Holbrook and Sutro, which have innovative designs and tech to offer a top-notch visual and performance experience. Their gaming glasses are no exception; they’re optimized to attenuate light from OLED and LED screens to reduce blue light exposure. They’re also designed to sit comfortably on the face while wearing headsets so that gamers won’t be held back by discomfort. Oakley has also collaborated with Fortnite to release a unique sunglasses collection. By offering products appealing to gamers, the eyewear brand encourages this demographic to care for their eyes without compromising on the fun.

Eye condition detection

Aside from using video games to promote eye care, they’re also now being used to detect and diagnose common eye conditions. Researchers at Stanford Medicine have integrated eye health assessments into video games, developing the Vision Performance Index (VPI) that can assess eye health and the eye-brain-body connection. Video games can help evaluate participants’ field of vision, visual stamina, ability to distinguish contrast, and other factors linked to common eye diseases. The use of interactive media covers more domains of vision that traditional assessments cannot, such as the ability to process contrast. It also creates a more enjoyable experience for patients who may be apprehensive about getting eye exams done. By gamifying eye condition detection, gamers and non-gamers alike may be more motivated to get their eyes checked to prevent or delay the onset of eye issues, allowing for an improved gaming experience and quality of life.