As a lifelong gamer, I've always cherished the immersive worlds and thrilling experiences that video games offer. But lately, I've been facing a new challenge: my eyesight. Turning 38, I started noticing that reading text on my ROG Ally's screen was becoming increasingly difficult. I knew I wasn't alone in this, and I decided to find a solution that would allow me to continue enjoying my favorite games without straining my eyes. This article shares my journey and what I learned along the way about gaming with reading glasses.
It all started subtly. I’d squint at the smaller text in RPGs, and after a few hours of gaming, my eyes would feel tired and strained. I initially brushed it off as fatigue from long workdays in front of a computer. But the problem persisted, and I realized it was affecting my gaming enjoyment. The once-crisp visuals now seemed blurry, and I found myself constantly adjusting my position to get a clearer view. I wasn't sure if I needed reading glasses for gaming specifically, or if my regular glasses would suffice.
My first instinct was to reach for my regular glasses, which have blue light blocking lenses—something I've used for years due to my desk job. These are similar to Gunnar optics, designed to reduce eye strain from screens. While they helped to some extent, they weren't a perfect solution. I still found myself straining to see details in certain games. Then, I tried something unexpected.
I actually discovered that taking my glasses off helped with some aspects of the Ally's display. It was strange, but for certain games, the clarity improved without any corrective lenses. I’m not sure why, but it worked in a pinch. However, that wasn't a sustainable solution for the long term.
Inspired by a conversation, I finally decided to get my eyes properly checked. At 42, I had been putting it off, but my wife convinced me it was time. The results were eye-opening (pun intended!). Turns out, I had been straining my eyes for years without realizing it. I ended up with two pairs of glasses: one for distance and close-up, and another specifically for reading with blue light protection. This made a huge difference!
After experimenting with different options, I found that having dedicated reading glasses made a world of difference. Not only did it alleviate eye strain, but it also improved my overall gaming experience. I could finally see the details in my games clearly, without having to squint or adjust my position constantly.
I also realized that not all games are created equal when it comes to readability. Some games, especially those designed for smaller screens (like Switch games), can be particularly challenging to play on the ROG Ally. That's where emulators like Yuzu can help, as they often allow you to adjust the screen size and resolution to improve readability.
Here are some practical tips I've gathered from my experience: