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A young boy has managed to save his vision by playing computer games regularly.
Six-year-old Ben Michaels nearly went blind in one eye as a result of severe ambylopia - also known as lazy eye syndrome.
After succumbing to the condition at the age of four, Ben's vision slowly deteriorated. If left untreated the six-year-old was likely to permanently lose sight in his right eye.
Fortunately for Ben, the treatment prescribed by his GP was far more fun than either he, or his parents, could have hoped for. He was encouraged to play computer games for two hours a day.
He spent the time playing against his twin brother on Mario Kart on a Nintendo DS. Eyecare expects prescribed the treatment because the rapid eye movement that results from playing computer games actually strengthens the muscles in the eyes - overcoming the condition.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ben's mother Maxine said her son's vision had improved by 250 per cent in the first week alone.
Mr Nischal of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital told the news provider: "A games console is something children can relate to. It allows us to deliver treatment quicker."
The treatment encourages the eyes to constantly refocus - improving their functionality.
However, persistent games console use has been shown to cause myopia - also known as short-sightedness - which is a growing problem amongst the young in the western world.
According to recent research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, children are spending far more time on screen-based activities than they were in the past, exacerbating the myopia problem.
Short-sightedness can be cured with Ortho K overnight corrective lenses - a hazard-free alternative to
corrective laser surgery.
And according to the Stabilising of Myopia by Accelerated Reshaping Technique study, Ortho K contact lenses not only halt the progression of myopia in the young, but in some cases actually reverse it.
Written by Oliver Edgar
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