We’ve
all
heard
that
screens
aren’t
good
for
your
eyes.
So
it
might
not
be
too
surprising
to
hear
that
many
Vision
Pro
users
have
complained
about
eye
strain.
(After
all,
the
headset
does
use
two
4K
screens,
one
in
front
of
each
eyeball.)
However,
these
are
common
complaints
from
overall
VR
usage
and
experts
say
it
isn’t
something
to
freak
out
over.
“Despite
what
many
people
believe,
sitting
too
close
to
the
TV
does
not
damage
your
eyes.
Screens
ruining
your
eyes
is
another
myth,”
says
Dr.
Arvind
Saini,
clinical
spokesperson
for
the
American
Academy
of
Ophthalmology.
If
you
peruse
VR
subreddits,
not
just
the
Apple
Vision
Pro
one,
that
can
be
hard
to
believe.
You’ll
often
find
people
complaining
that
their
eyes
“hurt
like
hell,”
are
irritated
or
even
bloodshot.
However,
Saini
says
that
these
are
all
temporary
symptoms
likely
caused
by
people
not
blinking
enough
while
using
the
devices.
As
for
symptoms
like
dizziness
and
nausea,
Saini
says
that’s
because
when
you
view
an
image
in
motion,
it
sends
the
same
signals
to
your
brain
as
if
you
were
actually
in
motion
—
even
if
you’re
standing
still.
Eye
strain
can
also
be
caused
by
something
called
the
vergence-accommodation
conflict.
In
the
real
world,
when
you
look
at
an
object,
the
focal
point
and
physical
distance
to
that
object
is
the
same.
In
VR,
depth
is
simulated
—
so
distance
of
your
eye
to
the
physical
screen
and
the
thing
you’re
focusing
on
in
the
virtual
world
can
be
mismatched.
That
causes
your
eye
muscles
to
fatigue.
“Although
these
symptoms
can
sometimes
be
uncomfortable,
there
is
no scientific
evidence
to
suggest
that
any
digital
screens,
including
a
tool
like
VR
devices,
are
harmful
to
eye
health.”
But
what
about
some
of
the
more
alarming
VR
headset
claims
involving
redness
and
hemorrhaging
in
the
eye?
Saini
says
that
those,
too,
are
not
dangerous
to
your
vision.
These
are
called
subconjunctival
hemorrhage,
and
while
scary
looking,
they’re
generally
harmless
and
heal
on
their
own.
They
can
be
caused
by
quick
pressure
changes
(i.e.,
sneezing
or
coughing),
which
can
pop
the
capillaries
in
your
eyes,
or
by
eye
trauma.
“There
is
no scientific
evidence
to
suggest
that
any
digital
screens,
including
a
tool
like
VR
devices,
are
harmful
to
eye
health.”
“Screen
use
or
VR
use
itself
cannot
cause
subconjuctival
hemorrhage,”
says
Saini.
However,
he
says
that
VR
(or
other
screen
usage)
can
indirectly
cause
blood
vessels
to
burst
if
you’re
constantly
rubbing
your
eyes
to
deal
with
screen-related
dry
eye.
Screens
—
VR
or
otherwise
—
aren’t
going
anywhere.
If
anything,
big
tech
seems
increasingly
convinced
that
AR
is
the
future.
Given
that,
the
eye
pain
they
cause
can’t
be
ignored.
So,
VR
companies
have
taken
a
relatively
conservative
approach
in
advising
how
people
use
their
devices.
For
example,
most
VR
headset
makers
warn
that
their
devices
are
not
for
children
under
13
years
old.
This
is
partly
because
they’re
not
designed
for
smaller
bodies
and
also
because
children’s
eyes
are
still
developing.
For
example,
Meta’s
Quest
compliance
page
notes
that
“Children’s
bodies
tend
to
be
less
developed,
so
their
eyes,
necks,
backs
and
strength
may
not
yet
allow
them
to
use
Meta
Quest
comfortably
or
safely.”
This
is
even
though
there
isn’t
conclusive
evidence,
or
enough
research
done
yet,
to
say
whether
using
the
headset
negatively
impacts
children’s
vision.
But
even
if
your
overall
vision
isn’t
at
stake,
it
doesn’t
change
the
fact
that
VR
can
make
your
eyes
hurt.
There
are,
however,
things
you
can
do
to
mitigate
that.
A
lot
of
it
is
common
sense.
Apple’s
Vision
Pro
support
page
recommends
easing
into
the
device,
taking
breaks
every
20-30
minutes
when
starting
out.
It
also
emphasizes
getting
the
best
possible
fit.
Meta’s
compliance
page
says
the
same,
adding
that
experts
say
children
should
be
limited
to
two
hours
per
day.
Saini
recommends
following
the
20-20-20
method.
Every
20
minutes,
you
should
take
a
20
second
break
and
look
20
feet
off
into
the
distance.
And
if
all
else
fails,
you
can
always
invest
in
some
eye
drops.
(Originally posted by Victoria Song)
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