Study: Video game play may improve eyesight

Playing action video games may help adults improve their eyesight, according to a study released Sunday.

A new study finds that playing action video games such as "Call of Duty 2" can help improve eyesight.

(Credit: Activision)

People who used a video-game training program saw improvements in their contrast sensitivity, or the ability to notice subtle differences in shades of gray, according to a study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The training could be beneficial to people who have amblyopia--commonly known as lazy eye--and those who have trouble seeing while driving at night, the study said.

"Normally, improving contrast sensitivity means getting glasses or eye surgery--somehow changing the optics of the eye," Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester, said in a statement. "But we've found that action video games train the brain to process the existing visual information more efficiently, and the improvements last for months after game play stopped."

Researchers studied two groups that played video games for 50 hours during a nine-week course. One group played action games such as "Call of Duty 2" and "Unreal Tournament 2004." Another group played non-action games such as "Sims 2," which doesn't require precise, visually guided aiming actions. People who played the action games showed enhanced contrast sensitivity compared with those in the non-action game group, with improvements ranging from 43 percent to 58 percent, according to the study.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that contrast sensitivity can be improved by simple training," Bavelier said. "When people play action games, they're changing the brain's pathway responsible for visual processing. These games push the human visual system to the limits and the brain adapts to it, and we've seen the positive effect remains even two years after the training was over."

The results appear to mirror those in a 2007 study that found people who played action video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month improved their spatial resolution by about 20 percent.

Researchers suggested that the video game training's effect could last for years and could be a useful complement to other eye-correction techniques such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. The study, which was funded by the National Eye Institute and the Office of Naval Research, noted that not all action games have such a benefit to the visually impaired.

[tipoo_]

Sweetness. But wouldnt staring at a monitor decrease muscle strength in the eyes from lack of need to refocus?

[RammerRW]

The article is about being able to see better. You should still look away at something fairly far off to give your eyes a rest. If all it takes is playing Unreal Tournament and then looking at something else to keep my eyes healthy, then i'm sure a lot of people are going to have some pretty awesome eyes :P

[He_And_Him_Studios]

Once again, science confirms the obvious. Action games require more thinking, better hand-to-eye coordination, and of course you have to be able to see inobvious things. The Sims is just about thniking.

[1363nd0f1337]

YES! I am well on my way to X-Ray vision! On a serious note, that's actually really cool. Perhaps keeping on with games can help people retain eyesight longer?

[cvaldes1831]

I am printing this out right now to show to Mom. Ahahahahahaha!!!

[ridz16]

HAHAHAHA

[Angmarr]

hopefully u leave some of the comments by people out if u want to convince her = )

[Angmarr]

DUDE so let me get this straight

Video games are supposed to Increase dexterity in your fingers/hands and NOW it also improves your vision!!!

and apparently some games (boring ones) make you work out, and increase memory, etc.

I'M IN HEAVEN!! LOL

[vinyny]

OMG this article is such a propaganda for the Video game industry. I wonder how much CNET gets paid for publishing this piece. I play game 20-30 hours a week and it is definitely not improving my sight. Eating healthy and exercise is the only real activity to maintain good health. Eyes sights worsen due to age and harmful activities--Yes, playing too much video game is one of the factor.

"Study: Video game play MAY improve eyesight." How about MAY NOT?

[Angmarr]

I totally agree with u, after I play a MMO for like a few hours my eyes hurt!

But I think they are just saying that the level of attention to details required by some games improves vision.

[1363nd0f1337]

I think shooters definitely lend themselves more to the vigilant side of things as opposed to MMOs/MMORPGs. You kind of have to be more environmentally aware as stuff tends to have a much quicker pace.

[Angmarr]

@ 1363nd0f1337

Agreed!

I was thinking that (to a lesser degree) that certain aspects of MMORPGs like DUNGEON PARTIES; GUILD WARS might require a similar type of eye coordination. Or @ lest hoping LOL

[BtmnHatesRbn]

@1363nd0f1337

I don't think so. Most guys I know who play Doom clones seem to be wimps at using real guns, and can't aim worth a damn. With rifles. At game. Not paintballs. They also can't shoot clay pigeons, either. I've seen these guys look down the barrel of a loaded gun.

[planeplane]

Dunno if the article is true or not, but these video games are causing millions of kids to become near nighted.

[Michichael]

Source please. :P

[AppleSuxLeo]

I love building my own PC and upgraging PRN for gaming.
Now I have another reason to rationalize my game playing.

[Angmarr]

do we really need rational to play games = D

[hellomad]

aah, i am going to buy a playstation. cool. now if dad says go to gym/workout and unrust those bone joints? i can happily redirect him here.
well, all OpenSource and windows source code compiles makes me a dull retarded chap. i need some entertainment. and this is the perfect excuse for me to buy a new gaming console.
i love pointing fingers for my own benifit and i shall not move back with this one for the gaming benifit.
i love internet. hehehehe!
by cvaldes1831 March 29, 2009 4:25 PM PDT
I am printing this out right now to show to Mom. Ahahahahahaha!!!
agrees with him, and i am just going to forward this URL for him to read. well.
hahahaha!

[yoyowaddup]

I am playing video games more often (;

[BtmnHatesRbn]

So, this is why all my gamer friends has THICK glasses?

[Michichael]

Well in addition to this, there's also the added affect of training somebody's depth perception. I was born partially blind and had no natural depth perception. I was clumsy, constantly walking into things, etc. I've been gaming since I was 8. (Holy crap, 14 years of gaming?!) and I've noticed as games moved to 3-D, my depth perception started improving. I think this is due to trying to create depth on a 2-D screen crosstrained my brain to treat the world as a 2-D screen. Pretty cool. So yeah, now I can drive and have corrected vision that's as normal as anyone else.

Ah Siphon Filter... I owe ya one.

[Angmarr]

wow

[guest86]

Oh really!!!!? I do play games on computer and video games everyday. I recommend people must use LCD flat screen will not harm your eyes. Regular TV or normal computer monitor is hurting my eyes when playing game more than 8 hours! Switch to LCD screen from Monitor and improve our eyes strain.

Right?

[Angmarr]

maybe, But looking @ my laptop (LCD) screen for a long time has made my eyes hurt. So honestly dunno.

[motogonzo]

50 hours over 9 weeks? That's almost nothing for most first-person-shooter players.

I've personally noticed changes in my visual acuity, but mainly in being able to notice single frames at 1/60 of a second in DVDs and games. I'm not sure if that helps in real life, but it's pretty cool.

[hellomad]

may be its good for eyes, i really havent figured out how it helps anyone. excess using of joypads and joysticks causes serious damage to your joints and cartiledges. well, i agree playing is good. computer games are also good. but why not we play computer games than computer games playing you? and second playing computer games causes serious strains on eyes and brains and nerve tissues and also cause serious back aches. here is a great tip, how about wake up in the morning and instead of turning on the console/tv and playing? jog? swim? play other games. well, i am glad to see it. but i guess as i am paranoid i will see the other side of the coin, as nothing man made is side effect free? i will give other games a shot. like soccer and running and also i will play computer games max 2-3 hours a day at the max. uhh! hey, there is a nice little thing called outdoor games, heard of it?
if it just fixes eyes? well cool, but if it screws up other organs miserably? then perhaps some thinking is required. i used to be a serious sega addict back in late 90's but when i saw other things like outdoor games? aah aah! "hello world."

[play7]

If this is not the worse advice Cnet has ever given...............OMG how stupid are you people getting at cnet?