Japanese Researchers Test VR Game to Improve Eyesight
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A team of researchers in Japan is exploring whether a virtual reality (VR) game can help enhance vision by strengthening eye muscles, with early findings showing promise for individuals with poor eyesight.
Japanese researchers at Kwansei Gakuin University are developing a VR game aimed at exercising the eye muscles, potentially improving users’ vision.
The game features three targets, each displaying a Landolt ring— a ring shaped like the letter "C" used in eye tests—rotating to face up, down, left, or right.
Players use a VR controller to point at a target and select the direction of the ring’s opening using an analog stick.
When the direction is correctly identified, the target is knocked back and gradually returns, requiring players to repeatedly refocus their eyes at varying distances.
The variation in distance and direction aims to train the eye muscles, helping them adapt and focus more efficiently.
Researchers observed that participants, including individuals with severe myopia, experienced vision improvement after six weeks of gameplay.
“The more they played, the better their vision got,” the team noted, though they stressed that these results are preliminary.
The current study involved only 10 participants between the ages of 22 and 36, and researchers caution that more extensive studies are needed.
Future research will need to include a larger and more diverse group to confirm the game’s effectiveness as a vision training tool.
Although it's too early to ditch prescription glasses, the method appears to be accessible, enjoyable, and potentially beneficial across age groups.
