Ask LH: Will The PS4 Version Of Destiny Ruin My Eyesight?

Dear Lifehacker, I am primarily a PC gamer but recently the Destiny Beta came out and I spent a whole week playing my PlayStation 4 and barely touched my PC. During that week of playing the PS4 my eyes would strain and become really sore after long hours of gaming but I rarely got that over the years of PC gaming. The PS4 uses one of my PC monitors so it can’t be the peripheral. Do you know what it could be? Thanks, Sore Eyes

Dear Sore Eyes,

We actually answered a very similar question earlier in the week. As we suggested then, it’s usually a good idea to visit an optometrist if your eyes are giving you trouble; especially if there’s a history of visual impairment in the family.

With that said, your case appears to be an isolated incident caused by the PlayStation 4. The reason you experienced additional eye-strain on the PS4 could be related to the lower field of view used in most console games. This is commonly referred to as the “binocular effect”.

Y’see, PC games typically provide a wider first-person view (between 90 to 100 degrees) which makes it easier to take scope of your digital surroundings. By contrast, console games usually have a much narrower field of view, which forces the player to focus on their direct line of vision as if they were wearing binoculars.

In short, a low field of vision will tax your eyes more than a high field of vision. It can also cause mild disorientation or dizziness in people who aren’t used to playing console games. This is precisely why so many PC video game ports have been tweaked with “Field of View” mods to improve the gaming experience.

Has anyone else experienced visual discomfort while playing Destiny? If anyone has an alternative theory, let Sore Eyes know in the comments section below.

Cheers

Lifehacker

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