Is minus 7 eyesight bad?
The quick answer is yes – minus 7 eyesight is considered poor vision that can significantly impact gaming and daily life. But with correction and adaptations, many gamers find workarounds to succeed. Keep reading for a complete analysis.
Defining Minus 7 Eyesight
Minus 7 vision corresponds to high myopia or nearsightedness of -7.00 diopters. This means your eyes can only naturally focus on objects within 7 inches. Without glasses or contacts, minus 7 eyes will see anything further than 7 inches as a blurry mess.
According to the American Optometric Association’s clinical practice guidelines, minus 7 qualifies as "high myopia." Only about 2-5% of people with nearsightedness have minus 7 or worse vision.
Visual Acuity Scale
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With minus 7 vision, your best corrected visual acuity would measure around 20/400, qualifying as “severely impaired” on the visual acuity scale.
Impacts of Minus 7 Vision for Gamers
Minus 7 eyesight can significantly affect one’s ability to excel at gaming by:
- Creating eye strain and headaches from squinting at blurry screens
- Causing difficulty seeing in-game details, text, HUD elements
- Reducing reaction speed from lack of visual clarity
Studies show that faster visual processing correlates with better gaming performance. Without correction, minus 7 would likely put you at a major disadvantage.
Competitive gamers also often need visual acuity better than 20/20. Seeing those minute details can mean the difference between dominating leaderboards or not.
Increased Eye Health Risks
High myopia does come with a greater lifetime risk of certain eye issues like retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Myopia control interventions can help slow progression.
Legally Blind vs Low Vision for Gaming
Often gamers wonder if higher prescriptions mean they are “legally blind.” Here’s how those definitions differ:
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| Legal Blindness | Low Vision |
|---|---|
| Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse | Best corrected visual acuity between 20/40 and 20/200 |
| Visual field less than 20 degrees | Visual field between 20 and 50 degrees |
| -7.00 vision itself does not qualify as legal blindness with correction | Minus 7 vision falls under the low vision category |
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So in summary, minus 7 eyesight itself does not classify as legal blindness as long as some level of correction is possible through prescription lenses. Never game without getting an updated eye exam and glasses/contacts prescription!
Treatment Options for Minus 7 Vision
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| Type of Correction | Considerations for High Myopia |
|---|---|
| Glasses | Extra thin lens options help fit stronger prescriptions while looking stylish |
| Contact Lenses | Some specialty contacts go up to -20.00 correction |
| Refractive Eye Surgery | Not always recommended for high myopia due to regression risks |
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I‘d recommend considering contact lenses or integrated prescription lens that fit inside VR/AR headsets. These provide the most immersive experience without having to wear glasses underneath bulky equipment.
Myopia Management
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| Type of Management | How It Works | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Orthokeratology | Reverse geometry rigid contact lenses worn overnight to reshape the cornea | Not suitable for all prescriptions |
| Atropine Eye Drops | Dilate the pupil to reduce near-focused imaging | Side effects possible |
| Vision Therapy | Series of in-office and at-home eye exercises | Limited evidence of effectiveness |
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Discuss these treatments with your eye doctor to see if they may help slow progression of your myopia over time.
Tips for Minus 7 Gamers
Don‘t let poor eyesight stop you from gaming glory! Here are my top suggestions:
- Get fully immersed with in-headset prescription lenses for maximum visual clarity
- Use eye hydrating drops if you experience discomfort from intense gaming sessions
- Adjust font sizes in games to make text bigger if needed
- Experiment with monitor size, position, and brightness settings to optimize visibility
At the end of the day, passion and practice still win out even if you don‘t have 20/20 vision. Master the games you love and blow away the competition!
Let me know if you have any other questions about gaming with higher prescriptions. I‘m happy to offer more insights from my years of experience. Game on, my visually-impaired friends!
