The Impact of e-Sports on Visual Function: A Systematic Review

e-Sports, recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 2017, is a rapidly growing discipline that requires high levels of visual endurance. However, despite the growing popularity of e-sports, scientific researches on its impact on the visual system remains limited. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the existing data on the impact of e-sports on visual functions, identify key risk factors, and determine the gaps in current knowledge.

The study methodology followed the PRISMA principles. The search for publications was performed in Elibrary, PubMed/MED-LINE, Elsevier, and Springer Link databases using key terms related to esports and health. Of the 1069 articles initially identified, after excluding duplicates and manually screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 relevant studies published between 2005 and 2022 were included in the analysis. The studies were conducted by authors from 8 countries with a total sample size of 3191 people (2805 e-sports athletes and 386 people of the control group). The analysis showed that the most studied aspects of the visual system of e-sports athletes are oculomotor activity and visual-motor reactions, while basic parameters (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, accommodation) remain virtually unexplored. Risks of visual fatigue, decreased blink rate, and dry eye syndrome have been identified, but the long-term effects of video game addiction and prevention methods remain unstudied. Some positive effects of gaming on the speed and accuracy of complex visual-motor reactions and reactions to a moving object, the speed of detecting objects in simple and complex visual search tasks have been noted. The analysis revealed significant gaps in research, including the lack of long-term observations, standardized protocols for assessing visual system strain, and a comparative analysis of e-sports athletes with other groups exposed to screen loads. The results highlight the need to develop standards for ophthalmological support of e-sports athletes and conduct further research aimed at the early diagnosis and prevention of visual impairment.

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