In recent years, scientists in Japan have been proactively using virtual reality to create new innovations and perform experiments, one such example being a device that could make all your catgirl fantasies come true. The department of science and technology studies of Kwansei Gakuin University has also taken a rather interesting approach to VR – building a bridge between gaming and ophthalmology. It may sound a bit unbelievable at first, considering many of us grew up being constantly reminded that playing games and staring at the screen all day will ruin our eyesight. However, Kwansei Gakuin University scientists may have found a way to actually heal myopia (nearsightedness) through gaming. While they still have further research to do, all test subjects who played their game so far have shown improvement in their eyesight.
As reported by MoguLive, in February 2025, the Kwansei Gakuin University Science and technology studies department published a research paper titled “Testing the effect VR game designed to restore young people’s eyesight.” For the purpose of their study, the scientists developed a game in VR that could possibly fix eyestrain and poor eyesight caused by computers, phones and other display devices.
According to the paper, eyestrain is caused by overworking and spasms in the ciliary muscles in the eyes – which are symptoms that usually follow immoderate usage of display devices. This is commonly known as false myopia or pseudomyopia, and apparently, it can be healed through certain kinds of eye exercises that stretch the ciliary muscles. In their game, Kwansei Gakuin University scientists implemented three of these exercises to aid healing of poor eyesight and eyestrain – perspective exercise, gazing exercise and stereopsis exercise.
In the experiment that took place over the span of 6 weeks, 10 participants aged 22 to 36 had to play the game at least once every three days. It is important to note that all of the test subjects were affiliated with the computer science department of the university, meaning they used display devices on a daily basis, and had at least 0.5 vision in both of their eyes before beginning the experiment. As a result of playing the game, all of the participants’ eyesight has shown improvement. However, according to the paper, further research is still necessary, especially since the people participating in the experiment were all young – in order to further prove that their game is able to fix poor eyesight and eyestrain, they will need to test more people in different age ranges and environments.
The game itself is quite reminiscent of actual eye tests– you’re supposed to push multiple targets further away using your controller and point a laser in the direction of the Landolt C signs on the targets, triggering a Hit, a Miss or a Combo for getting two or more in a row. The targets will get near you before you push them back again, and this alternation of the Landolt Cs being closer and farther helps with stretching your ciliary muscles.
