Has anyone else's eyesight deteriorated after more than a year of VR?

[Kellan Fell]

EDIT: P.s. I can fix my vision almost perfectly by squinting. But that's normal I guess.

I really don't think it is...
I'm 52 and have worn glasses for short sightedness since I was 10. For the last 20 years (at least) my prescription has been -3.25 in each eye, and I have worn either contact lenses or glasses depending on the situation. Recently (as I get older) I have found myself getting long-sighted too, due to the natural changes in the focal length of your eyes as you age. Now if I am wearing my contact lenses I need +1.00 strength reading glasses or things are blurred when close, or if I am wearing my glasses I find I actually have to take them off to read. For someone who has lived their whole life (pretty much) short sighted, this just seems plain weird, though I have been assured by opticians that it it perfectly normal.

I use the Rift either wearing my contacts or glasses for hours at a time and have not noticed it having any affect on my eyesight whatsoever. In fact it causes me more trouble making my cheekbones ache than it does with my eyes. I would suggest it's nothing to do with your VR headset, and just natural age related deterioration of your eyesight.

 

[Zeeman]

I seem to remember seeing a news article ages ago about 3D actually helping eyesight, as it made your eyes focus all over the place, rather than at a flat screen.

Z...

 

[shreddog]

The DK1 had focus on infinity. I'm near sighted and had to use glasses or the B lenses to see anything properly with it.
The Vive I was surprised I found I didn't have to use glasses to even read text. If I use glasses it gets a bit sharper but I can play fine without. So I am certain the new HMDs are not focused on infinity, which is a shame.

My sight has gradually turned worse since the age of 18. I suspect my obsessive gaming hobby is in large part to blame.. Staring at a monitor at a very close distance for hours a day is not natural for the eyes. I am now making sure to look out the window and focus on a distant object now and then so the eyes can do a little work.

 

[shreddog]

I seem to remember seeing a news article ages ago about 3D actually helping eyesight, as it made your eyes focus all over the place, rather than at a flat screen.

3d is more about eye convergence than focus. In a VR headset the focus is set but the convergence changes depending on the distance to the object you're looking at. It can have a weird effect on the brain when the focus won't match the eyes convergence. Perhaps that's the reason I've got this "crossed eye" feeling when taking the HMD off after a longer session..


From article
In the real world, our eyes work to both focus and converge on a point in space when we look toward it — it’s a natural reflex called the accommodation-convergence reflex.


“The distance you need to converge your eyes to and the distance you need to focus your eyes to are the same distance,” explained Marty Banks, professor of optometry, vision science, psychology, and neuroscience at UC Berkeley in a phone call. “The brain has coupled these two response together — that’s why it’s called vergence-accommodation coupling. It makes total sense in the world we live in.”


With VR, though, our eyes always focus on a fixed point while trying to converge or diverge toward objects that can appear either nearby or distant. This mismatch is known as the vergence-accommodation conflict, and it’s the reason many people experience visual discomfort when using a VR.

 

[Wrongway]

I am short sited (Myopia) and have been since a second bout of chickenpox some 30 years ago. I am now 63. It's anot a bad short sightedness but enough to make the CV1 unplayable for me without the extra built in lenses I bought. Tried contact lenses but thats another story. I wore glasses for the Rift initially which was a BIG mistake. Started marking the Rift's lenses. My right eye is -1.75 SPH and the left is -2.0 SPH. Without glasses something 10 foot away starts looking rather blurry. If only the rift had a dioptre adjustment...Sigh. Don't get me started on IPD !!!

 

[[HJ]-RedRaven]

I am short sited (Myopia) and have been since a second bout of chickenpox some 30 years ago. I am now 63. It's anot a bad short sightedness but enough to make the CV1 unplayable for me without the extra built in lenses I bought. Tried contact lenses but thats another story. I wore glasses for the Rift initially which was a BIG mistake. Started marking the Rift's lenses. My right eye is -1.75 SPH and the left is -2.0 SPH. Without glasses something 10 foot away starts looking rather blurry. If only the rift had a dioptre adjustment...Sigh. Don't get me started on IPD !!!

Yep, you're not too short-sighted - my myopic eyes are -11.5 and -13.2 dioptres! Or, they were, before I had the lenses replaced (due to cataracts). Now I'm slightly long sighted, and need no correction in the Rift.

Dioptre correction adjustment is certainly possible in VR - but it'd need an extra lens, and the field of view would suffer.

(Take a deep breath) Why has IPD given you an issue?

 

[Monk]

Most likely just eye strain. Happens to me when I've been on the forum too long.

It does freak me out a little though...my 20/20 vision at 30+ is one of the few blessings I cherish.

 

[Wrongway]

Yep, you're not too short-sighted - my myopic eyes are -11.5 and -13.2 dioptres! Or, they were, before I had the lenses replaced (due to cataracts). Now I'm slightly long sighted, and need no correction in the Rift.

Dioptre correction adjustment is certainly possible in VR - but it'd need an extra lens, and the field of view would suffer.

(Take a deep breath) Why has IPD given you an issue?

Wow that is short sighted. I thought mine was bad enough. The DK2 had dioptre adjustment so wasn't too bad but had no IPD adjustment so was no good for me. I sold the DK2 but bought the CV1 when it came out. After a disaster wearing glasses with the CV1 causing scratches I found a spot that did supplementary lenses for the CV1 http://vr-lens-lab.com/ . They have worked very well. Unfortunately they have taken the Rift version of the lenses off the market due to problems with the fitting. I believe they are redesigning. Mine are ok but can occasionally drop out of place.

My IPD (inter pupillary distance) is 75mm. Most things like binoculars and Oculuses come with a default range of around 52-72mm with the mean average for a man at 57mm. I get away with the CV1 set at it's widest. If I didnt have the VR Lenslab lenses I would have to resort to contact lenses which I dont like wearing often as I cant see closeup with them in.

 

[Alec Turner]

Interesting thread, thanks for starting it drkaii. As someone who's seen their own eyesight degrading (fairly gradually I should add) to the point where I basically need reading glasses all the time now, and as someone who's right on the cusp of getting an Oculus (probably at the end of the month when I'm hoping I can just buy one over the counter at John Lewis), I had my own concerns over this and am following this thread with keen interest.

 

[StiTch]

Interesting thread, thanks for starting it drkaii. As someone who's seen their own eyesight degrading (fairly gradually I should add) to the point where I basically need reading glasses all the time now, and as someone who's right on the cusp of getting an Oculus (probably at the end of the month when I'm hoping I can just buy one over the counter at John Lewis), I had my own concerns over this and am following this thread with keen interest.

You should definitely buy it, decide it's a bad idea for your health, and then send it to me.

#ifyoudon'ttry...

 

[Frank]

Interesting thread, thanks for starting it drkaii. As someone who's seen their own eyesight degrading (fairly gradually I should add) to the point where I basically need reading glasses all the time now, and as someone who's right on the cusp of getting an Oculus (probably at the end of the month when I'm hoping I can just buy one over the counter at John Lewis), I had my own concerns over this and am following this thread with keen interest.

I didn't realise John Lewis is going to stock them. GAME will certainly sell them over the counter soon. That will give you a chance to try before you buy, but only in the larger branches.

I'm sure there will be an enthusiastic shop assistant will to help you try them out wherever you buy them, but just in case you're landed with someone who just sullenly tosses the headset over to you, the main thing to remember is that the glasses have a sweet spot. You've got to move them around your face until you find it. There's also a little nub at the bottom left of the CV1 that you press in and shift around until you've got the separation of the lenses at the right distance.

 

[Wrongway]

Interesting thread, thanks for starting it drkaii. As someone who's seen their own eyesight degrading (fairly gradually I should add) to the point where I basically need reading glasses all the time now, and as someone who's right on the cusp of getting an Oculus (probably at the end of the month when I'm hoping I can just buy one over the counter at John Lewis), I had my own concerns over this and am following this thread with keen interest.

If your only long sighted (presbyopia), the age thing, then you should be fine with the Oculus as it's lenses focus on infinity. Not heard of over the counter sales of the CV1 yet.

 

[Alec Turner]

Not heard of over the counter sales of the CV1 yet.

http://www.johnlewis.com/oculus-rift-virtual-reality-headset/p2949773

7am - one week to go!

 

[Wrongway]

http://www.johnlewis.com/oculus-rift-virtual-reality-headset/p2949773

7am - one week to go!

Wow, backlog must be cured. It could be mail order only though. If you have doubts I would definitely find a way to try before committing. I had the DK2 which was a sad disappointment for me, mainly due to eye problems. But I was lucky enough to get to try the CV1 at the recent Lavecon and that sold me. I did wear glasses at the time, but as I mentioned above had to swiftly abandon the glasses and find an alternative measure after receiving my own.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

Wow, backlog must be cured. It could be mail order only though. If you have doubts I would definitely find a way to try before committing. I had the DK2 which was a sad disappointment for me, mainly due to eye problems. But I was lucky enough to get to try the CV1 at the recent Lavecon and that sold me. I did wear glasses at the time, but as I mentioned above had to swiftly abandon the glasses and find an alternative measure after receiving my own.

I ditched my original pre order of the rift and got a Vive, but loved vr so much I had to have the rift as well. So made a new order for it in a moment of weakness.
4 days later almost a month before my original pre order delivery estimate UPS was at my door. That was almost three months ago.

 

[Alec Turner]

Wow, backlog must be cured. It could be mail order only though. If you have doubts I would definitely find a way to try before committing. I had the DK2 which was a sad disappointment for me, mainly due to eye problems. But I was lucky enough to get to try the CV1 at the recent Lavecon and that sold me. I did wear glasses at the time, but as I mentioned above had to swiftly abandon the glasses and find an alternative measure after receiving my own.

Actually I too managed to try out the Oculus (and the Vive) at Lavecon. Although somewhat disappointed by how speckly I found them both (i.e hard lines all seemed to shimmer really noticeably compared to the rock solid image I get on a monitor) I was still pretty much sold and my eyesight didn't seem to be a problem (i.e. I could read HUD text without my glasses).

 

[Wrongway]

Actually I too managed to try out the Oculus (and the Vive) at Lavecon. Although somewhat disappointed by how speckly I found them both (i.e hard lines all seemed to shimmer really noticeably compared to the rock solid image I get on a monitor) I was still pretty much sold and my eyesight didn't seem to be a problem (i.e. I could read HUD text without my glasses).

I never got to try the Vive at Lavecon, mainly because the ones I saw were not setup for ED at the time. But conversations I had with people at the time more or less convinced me to get the Oculus. I too get that shimmer and mainly notice it in stations or looking at a coriolis from the outside. I presume it's due to the low comparative resoltion to most monitors. But the experience outweighs the display quality for me. I also use it on MS FSX which is amazing.

Incidentally, after care service leaves a bit to be desired. My CV1 had a video fault from day one. It took a month of back and forward exchanges before they replaced it. The actual replacement procedure once initiated wasn't too bad though.

 

[Frank]

I never got to try the Vive at Lavecon, mainly because the ones I saw were not setup for ED at the time. But conversations I had with people at the time more or less convinced me to get the Oculus. I too get that shimmer and mainly notice it in stations or looking at a coriolis from the outside. I presume it's due to the low comparative resoltion to most monitors. But the experience outweighs the display quality for me. I also use it on MS FSX which is amazing.

Incidentally, after care service leaves a bit to be desired. My CV1 had a video fault from day one. It took a month of back and forward exchanges before they replaced it. The actual replacement procedure once initiated wasn't too bad though.

"Try before you buy" and "after sales service", two good reasons for buying stuff from living human beings rather than from a glowing rectangle of coloured lights.

 

[esxste]

I suspect there's a bit of correlation = causation going on here.

Definitely go to your opticians and get your eyes tested. Sudden changes to your eyesight (even over a year) might be caused by something more serious. Diabetes for example affects the eyes quite quickly if undetected and untreated.

If you're in the UK and work with "Display Screen Equipment" you're entitled to an annual eye test paid for by your employer.

Age, genetics, lifestyle can all have major impacts on eyesight. Its amazing how quickly the body starts to fall apart after puberty has done its thing.

 

[drkaii]

Ok I saw the optician and she basically just said I've got mild short-sightedness and recommended glasses. I explained everything, including use of the Oculus and she found it interesting but said that there's no evidence that stuff like that has any affect on eyesight and didn't think it was the cause. Given that I've had about 50 responses here, and on reddit, she's definitely right. So no more worries. And I'm getting glasses...ugh