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Playing Tetris helps cure 'lazy eye' –study
By Michael Logarta
Playing Tetris and similar "brick games" for several hours can help cure "lazy eye" — "banlag" in Filipino— according to doctors at McGill University in Canada.
Many children suffer from a condition known as amblyopia, or “lazy eye”, which, if left untreated, could lead to permanent vision loss in one eye, according to separate reports on the BBC, Eurogamer, and Computer and Video Games.
The traditional method of curing this ailment includes wearing a patch over the normal eye so that the lazy eye is forced to work harder. Research has revealed, however, that one does not have to look like a glum pirate to be rid of the pesky disorder: playing the video game Tetris is not only more fun, it has also proven to be a more effective remedy.
Parallel tests
A group of nine adult test subjects were tasked to wear special goggles while playing Tetris an hour a day for two weeks. The goggles let one eye keep track of the falling shapes, while the other eye only sees the blocks already accumulated at the bottom of the screen.
A second group of nine adults were also made to wear goggles, except their good eye was covered, similar to the traditional patch treatment.
After the test period, the first group showed remarkable improvement in their vision compared to the patched group. When the researchers then allowed the patched group to repeat the test with both eyes uncovered, their vision improved significantly.
Redefining 'lazy eyes'
The study revealed that the conventional understanding of amblyopia —that one eye is “lazy” and simply needs to be retrained to see— is inaccurate. According to the new theory, the disorder involves not one but both eyes. This means regaining sight entails mastering the ability of both eyes to cooperate with each other.
“When we get the two eyes working together, we find the vision improves,” said Dr. Robert Hess, a member of the research team. “It’s much better than patching, much more enjoyable, it’s faster and it seems to work better.”
Playing Tetris requires simultaneously tracking motion and shape. As the game involves two-eye coordination, it is the perfect test of the researchers’ new theory. — TJD, GMA News
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