Will Video Games Harm My Children's Eyes?

Actually, video games may help sharpen your children's vision rather than harm it but only if they are played in moderation.

Staring at a video screen for hours on end puts the eyes under great stress. Eyestrain can lead to headaches, fatigue, blurring vision and, the stress may contribute to nearsightedness.

Played in moderation, however, video games can help sharpen vision skills used in school, on the job, and in sports. These include eye movement skills, eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, visualization, and side vision awareness.

Players should be at least 5 feet away from the TV. We recommend five minute rest breaks every 30 minutes of play. During rest breaks, players should look at things at least 20 feet away.