Virtual reality headsets: benefits and caveats

These headsets provide an immersive experience that makes them fascinating to the user. In a certain context they can be beneficial for vision but they can also represent a danger for your vision.

Most virtual reality headsets contain two small liquid crystal displays (LCDs) projected over each eye to create a stereoscopic effect that gives an illusion of depth.

 

Warnings

These screens located very close to the eyes concern some specialists through two considerations:

• What are the negative effects on the eyes for prolonged use?
• The risk of eyestrain when staring at an object for a long time (such as when watching a long movie or looking at computer or phone screens for a long time).

 

The majority of manufacturers have issued a warning especially for children. Prolonged exposure to this uncomfortable position can alter the development of the child's visual system. The latter develops throughout childhood and can be affected at the levels of focusing, visual tracking and depth perception.

 

For each user, the phenomenon of "cybersickness" may appear. It's a form of virtual reality headset-related motion sickness that can occur when visual information doesn't match body position.

 

Benefits

Some virtual reality headsets help develop and improve eyesight when used under the guidance of an optometrist.

Systems have been developed to improve visual acuity in amblyopia, eye/hand coordination, depth perception, reaction time and eye coordination.

 

In general, we advise you to take into account the warnings issued by manufacturers and vision specialists.

Two ways to reduce the impact of virtual reality headsets on your eyes:

• Limit the time of use: duration and frequency.
• Perform complete eye exams with your optometrist at the recommended frequency: every year for children from 6 months, then every two years for adults (unless otherwise indicated by your doctor).