Leveling up with Jordan Fisher

“I play video games daily. I have for my entire life for as long as I can possibly remember. I don't think there's been a day that I haven't played at least something on my phone. It's such a necessary therapy for me.”– Jordan Fisher

Jordan Fisher is one of the more than 227 million Americans who play video games, and that number is only growing. An avid gamer and streamer, playing is one of his favorite pastimes. In addition to gaming, screens are an everyday part of Jordan’s career—from reviewing scripts to taking meetings. “I’d say on an easy day, I spend 7 hours on screens at least. Or if I'm on video calls all day, sometimes my screen time can go north of 13 to 15 hours. It's a lot.” He’s not alone.

A 2022 study of gamers shows that screen time is excessive, with usage averaging more than eight hours a day and gaming averaging roughly four hours a day.

So much screen time can have a negative impact on the eyes, contributing to digital eye strain, dry eyes and even an increase in myopia (nearsightedness). That’s why Jordan is passionate about sharing the importance of preventative eye care and practicing healthy screen time with everyone.

Jordan understands the importance of taking care of his eye health firsthand. He is farsighted with astigmatism and has worn glasses since the fourth grade. He also suffered a corneal abrasion, also known as a scratched cornea, in 2017. “When I tore my cornea, it affected my life so much. I had a clinching sensation in my throat for a week. I didn't realize how connected our eyes and whole body are,” Jordan explains.

As a new dad, taking care of his vision is even more important to him. “I want to be able to see my son grow and be a part of his life,” he says. “It is so important people understand eye health. If you don't take care of it, you will suffer on the other side. And we don’t joke about that in the gaming world at all. Eye health is not a joke by any stretch.”

With the rise of screen time, AOA doctors are constantly taking care of Americans who experience symptoms related to gaming and screen time. An avid gamer and AOA doctor, Jason Compton, O.D., echoes the importance of preventative eye care, especially for those who spend a lot of time on screens and encourages patients to bring up their screen time with their doctor of optometry.

“As a gamer myself, I know how easy it can be to get lost in a game. But there are simple things we can all do to safeguard our eye health.

One is to practice the 20-20-20 rule when gaming or looking at a screen,” Dr. Compton explains. For every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, take a 20 second break to look at something 20 feet away.

In addition to practicing healthy screen time habits, the most important thing you can do is to see your doctor of optometry.

“While there are so many things we can do on our screens, getting an in-person, comprehensive eye exam isn’t one of them. It’s so important to build a relationship with your optometrist and to get checked offline so that you can continue to do what you love online. That’s why I have an annual eye exam to safeguard my eye health.”– Jordan Fisher

Jason Compton, O.D.

Jason Compton, O.D., graduated from The State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry and completed his residency at the Wilmington Delaware VA Medical Center. Dr. Compton owns a private practice ‘Compton Eye Associates’ in the New York City area. Dr. Compton serves as assistant adjunct faculty for the SUNY State College of Optometry. He is a council member of the American Optometric Association’s Contact Lens and Cornea Section and a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Compton is the president/founder of TheRightContact.com, a contact lens resource used by eye care professionals worldwide. Find an AOA doctor of optometry near you.