GTA 6 Is Almost Here: An Ophthalmologist’s Tips for Gaming Without Eye Strain

With the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI just around the corner, I suspect more than a few people will be spending some very long hours in front of their screens.

As an ophthalmologist, I have some advice for anyone planning an extended visit to Vice City. Enjoy the game, but don’t forget to look after your eyes.

Prolonged gaming can cause digital eye strain, with symptoms including dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and general visual discomfort. The good news is that looking at a screen for long periods does not typically cause permanent eye damage, but it can certainly make your eyes uncomfortable.

One of the biggest problems is that we blink less when concentrating on a screen. Normally, we blink approximately 15 times per minute, but this can drop significantly during visually demanding activities. Blinking is essential for spreading tears across the surface of the eye, and reduced blinking can contribute to dryness and irritation.

My first recommendation is the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your focusing system a brief rest. Make a conscious effort to blink fully, particularly during intense gaming sessions.

Your gaming environment also matters. Avoid playing in a completely dark room with an excessively bright screen. Adjust your screen brightness to suit the surrounding lighting, minimize glare, and maintain a comfortable viewing distance. If your eyes feel dry, preservative-free artificial tears can help.

What if your eyes start to bother you? If you begin experiencing dryness, burning, irritation, or fluctuating vision after a long gaming session, your eyes may be telling you it’s time to take a break. Consider scaling back your gaming time for a few days to allow your symptoms to settle. Preservative-free artificial tears can help restore comfort and improve lubrication of the ocular surface. Avoid the temptation to push through persistent discomfort. If symptoms do not improve with rest and lubrication, arrange an eye examination. Significant eye pain, marked redness, or persistent vision loss should be assessed promptly rather than attributed to screen time.

And don’t forget to actually get up occasionally. Longer breaks give your eyes a rest and are also good for your posture, circulation, and general health. If you’re planning to play late into the night, remember that sacrificing sleep for gaming isn’t doing your health any favours either.

One final point: you don’t need expensive blue-light-blocking glasses to protect your eyes from gaming. There is no convincing evidence that blue light from ordinary screens causes permanent eye damage or that these glasses prevent digital eye strain.

Takeaway

GTA 6 promises plenty of opportunities to lose track of time, but your eyes will appreciate a few breaks along the way. Blink regularly, follow the 20-20-20 rule, keep your screen at a comfortable brightness, and remember to step away occasionally.

If your eyes become uncomfortable, give them a few days of reduced screen time and use preservative-free artificial tears as needed.

Enjoy Vice City. Just remember there is a world outside your screen worth looking at too!