Is VR Bad For Your Eyes | Can VR Benefit Your Eyes?

VR is the future of gaming and the advent of Metaverse gaming has given it a boom. There is various Metaverse such as Meta’s Horizon Worlds that require you to wear VR headsets in order to play. But, Have you ever thought about what it is doing to your eyes? Well, if not then this post on “Is VR Bad For Your Eyes” will surely be an eye-opener for you.

In 2020, an estimated 52.1 million Americans slipped on headsets to immerse themselves in virtual reality (VR). Unfortunately, VR is not all fun and games. Researchers say VR headsets may cause eye problems, although there’s no evidence of long-term damage. Still, if you are using VR headsets for a long period of time, then it can easily damage your eyes.

We will be discussing more. Is VR bad for your eyes? What are the researchers saying about it? How many people are reporting problems due to VR headsets? So, without wasting time, let’s start.

How Is VR Bad For Your Eyes?

“Virtual reality is constantly advancing and new technologies and applications [are] regularly emerging,” the Canadian Association of Optometrists advises. “For now, the best advice is to pay attention to warnings that come with VR headsets, limit time spent in the virtual world, and ensure all users have regular comprehensive eye examinations with an optometrist to ensure eye health and contribute to overall health.”

Virtual reality enthusiasts can also talk to their optometrists about VR prescription lenses. For players who already wear corrective glasses, these prescription inserts can fit into their favorite headsets. So we can say “Is VR Bad For Your Eyes” is partially true.

Eye Problems Due To VR headset

Answering the same question Is VR Bad For Your Eyes, research shows wearing VR headsets can cause eye strain, eye discomfort, eye fatigue, and blurred vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains that staring for too long at a VR screen can lead to eye strain or fatigue. It is because we tend to blink less when using a device with a digital screen than we normally do, leading to eye strain or fatigue. Furthermore, a study published in 2019 suggests that eye fatigue among users of VR headsets results from the discrepancy between virtual and perceived depth.

Another eye-related issue associated with VR headsets is visually induced motion sickness. Aside from eye strain and eye fatigue, symptoms of this so-called “cybersickness” include trouble focusing, headache, lightheadedness, drowsiness, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.

Visually induced motion sickness “remains an obstacle to the widespread adoption and commercial development of technologies associated with [VR headsets],” according to a research analysis published in 2018.

The analysis notes that children, women, and people with unstable posture, defects in their field of vision, or a history of motion sickness may be especially susceptible to cybersickness.

Motion Sickness Due To VR

People do get sick in VR from something known as motion sickness. Individual people have different levels of sensitivity to it, but it usually happens because motion information from your eyes disagrees with those from your other senses. That disorientation can make you feel nausea and unstable on your feet.

A large part of modern VR development has been about making motion sickness a non-issue. Modern VR headsets and the computers that drive them offer extremely low-latency visuals. Usually less than 20 milliseconds from where you move to where your eyes see that movement in VR. That said, it’s important not to confuse VR-induced motion sickness with eye problems that are purportedly caused by VR.

Evidence For VR Bad For Your Eyes?

In 2020, a VR developer named Dani Bittman posted a story on Twitter claiming that extended VR use may have damaged their eyesight. The BBC reported on this claim, interviewing a representative from the Association of Optometrists who reiterated that there’s currently no evidence that VR headsets cause permanent damage to eyesight. Just the same type of transient eye strain that all computer screens cause when we focus on them for too long.

That doesn’t mean it’s not possible. It just means that the right studies haven’t been done yet and not enough time has passed to gather data. In the absence of evidence, it’s important not to fill the blanks with assumptions.

What Are The Risks For Kids?

As most of the early immersive VR environments are focused on video gaming markets, both mobile and console-based, kids could be in the most danger. The market is filled with young gamers—an estimated 26% of all gamers are younger than 18—and focus, tracking, and depth perception are still developing into middle childhood. This could put children at risk for developing early myopia, nearsightedness, and digital eye strain.

Easy ways to combat this ocular stress include having your child’s vision checked before school starts, encouraging 20-second breaks from screens every 20 minutes, and making longer breaks where they perform physical activities mandatory.

Benefits Of VR For Your Eyes?

With all of the possible negative effects, VR might wreck our vision, the fine-tuning and further development of virtual reality systems and headsets could actually make our eyes stronger since they have to adjust to maintain binocular vision. Who knows what other interesting and groundbreaking applications VR might come up with to enhance vision down the road? Special attention should be paid to the time spent in virtual reality for younger enthusiasts, similar to the restrictions already recommended for kids’ screen time.

Wrapping Up

Let’s conclude our post on “Is VR bad for your eyes”. We recommend minimizing the usage time on VR. use a lens if you already have a lens. If you face any issues with your eyes, consult the doctor immediately. Always give breaks while playing on VR.

Keep exploring our website to know more about VR headsets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does VR Damage Your Eyes?

Reliable evidence that VR headsets cause permanent deterioration in eyesight in children or adults.” Big tech now understands that the blue light emitted by most screens plays a big part in the strain we get from looking at them for too long.

Q2. Can VR Cause Permanent Eye Damage?

Even though eye strain is temporary and won’t cause permanent damage, it’s uncomfortable for the time being. Symptoms may even extend to light sensitivity or blurred vision. Some VR users find that when they wear 3D gear, they end up feeling dizzy and sick, similar to motion sickness.

Q3. Can VR Cause Blindness?

From the Association of Optometrists, Ceri Smith-Jaynes told the BBC: “We currently do not have any reliable evidence that VR headsets cause permanent deterioration in eyesight in children or adults.