Tetris: The Old-but-Exciting Solution to Lazy Eyes

You probably know that your eyesight can be affected by spending too long playing video games. At least, that used to be the case until a recent study by doctors at McGill University found that Tetris, an iconic stack-em-up puzzle game, can help correct “lazy eyes.” Perhaps, it's no longer accurate to blame gaming itself for vision impairment (though playing too long can still be detrimental). In fact, this isn't the first time games have been beneficial for the eyes.

Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a vision disorder where the eyes fail to correct themselves even with visual aids such as eyeglasses on. It affects at least three percent of Americans and may lead to blindness if not treated as soon as possible. Two groups of adults participated in the Tetris study: one group covering their stronger eye and the other group using both eyes but wearing special goggles. The goggles split the field of vision of both eyes, one focused on falling objects and the other on the ground.

Results showed that the second group displayed noticeable signs of improvement from lazy eyes, although the first group's vision also improved to some degree. The study said Tetris required both eyes to coordinate since players constantly shift between the falling blocks and blocks on the ground. This established the possibility of correcting loss of vision that went unabated during a person's early years. Experts consider this a breakthrough in eye health.