Effects of playing video games on the accommodative and vergential component of the visual system in university students of a Colombian higher education institution

Abstract

Objective: To determine the alterations in the oculomotor system that occur after continuous video game use in healthy young individuals. Method: The study included a sample population of 30 subjects aged between 17 and 31 years, in whom the vergence state, the accommodative state, and stereopsis were assessed before and after playing an action video game continuously for 1 hour on electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones. Results: The study identified physiological changes, including the appearance of larger divergent-type latent deviations in near vision, a near point of convergence that is more distant and specific to real objects and red filters, decreased positive fusional reserves in near vision, accommodation typically affected in flexibility by making fast focusing with positive lenses impossible and decreasing cycles per minute. A reduction in fine stereopsis was also observed after being exposed to video games. Conclusions: Continuous exposure to video games increases the amplitude of accommodation, which affects the flexibility of accommodation, making the subjects unable to focus and revealing a motor imbalance reflected in the appearance of divergent-type deviations associated with fatigue due to prolonged exposure time.