Posts Tagged ‘20/20/20 rule’

Nintendo recommends taking frequent breaks with their new 3DS

Posted on March 1st, 2011 by Philip K

Philip K. is a member of VSP's Enterprise Information Services and avid video gamer

Nintendo’s next handheld device, the Nintendo 3DS, is set to launch on March 27th.  They have a lineup of 18 games coming out in 2011, 13 of which will be released on the 3DS launch date.

Along with the upcoming release comes a new recommendation from Nintendo that, to avoid motion sickness, users should take frequent breaks from playing.  It looks like you might be seeing in-game messaging reminding users to take breaks.  In-game reminders are not a bad idea, in my opinion. 

The 20-20-20 rule is always a good gauge for providing relief to your eyes.  Take breaks every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.  Following these guidelines will result in a better gaming experience, regardless of the gaming platform you use.  The Nintendo 3DS is expected to be a big hit and I am interested in seeing it in action. For more information on how this new game console might impact your eyes, read the article from PCWorld Magazine with VSP Provider Nate Bonilla Warford, O.D of Bright Eyes Family Vision Care.

On a separate topic, I got my hands on some digital media glasses, designed for gaming and computer use.  I will be testing these out over the next week or two and will reporting my findings. Stay tuned!

Image from The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D

File under: 3-D, eye health, Eye Safety | Tagged: , , , , ,
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The Early Show on CBS recommends VSP’s tips on easing eye strain in a digital world

Posted on August 5th, 2010 by Lisa P.

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton was recently on “The Early Show” to discuss Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) in a segment titled “How to Ease Your Computer Eye Strain.”

“It’s a new and growing condition that’s a byproduct of modern technology,” she said. “The most common symptoms are: eye strain, dry or irritated eyes, fatigue, and headaches.” Dr. Ashton not only provides the latest on a health problem that affects 70 percent of computer users, her recommendations on easing this strain are tips from VSP Vision Care:

  1. Blink Often: When looking at a computer or hand-held digital device, it’s common for you to blink two to three times less than you normally would. This can lead to “dry eye.” Blinking bathes your eyes in tears, and tears are naturally therapeutic for the eyes.
  2. The 20/20/20 Rule: When spending long periods in front of a digital device, every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away to allow your eyes to rest.
  3. Ensure Proper Lighting: Poor lighting often causes eye strain. To help ease the strain on your eyes, keep bright lighting overhead to a minimum and position your desk lamp to shine on your desk, and not at you. Position your computer screen in a way that reduces reflections and glare from windows or overhead lights.
  4. Location of computer screen: Most people find it more comfortable to view a computer when the eyes are looking downward. Optimally, the computer screen should be 15 to 20 degrees below eye level (about 4 or 5 inches) as measured from the center of the screen and 20 to 28 inches from the eyes.

For more information about computer-related vision problems visit the “My Eyes” tab on VSP’s Facebook page.

File under: CVS, eye health, Eye Safety, Technology | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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