Impact of Virtual Reality Use on Accommodation and Binocular Vision in Young Adults.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used among young adults and introduces a mismatch between accommodation and vergence, which may affect visual function and lead to ocular discomfort. Objective: To evaluate the impact of virtual reality (VR) use on accommodation and binocular vision in young adults. Methodology: This was a quasi-experimental (pre–post) analytical study conducted at Lahore Eye Care Centre Faisalabad from January 2025 to January 2026 including 190 young adults. Results: The mean age was 23.8 ± 3.2 years, with 58.9% males. Significant reductions were observed in accommodative amplitude (10.6 ± 1.9 D to 9.2 ± 2.1 D) and fusional vergence, along with increases in NPA (8.9 ± 2.3 cm to 10.7 ± 2.6 cm) and NPC (7.6 ± 2.1 cm to 9.4 ± 2.4 cm) (p<0.001). Vergence and accommodative facility also declined significantly. Visual symptoms increased notably, with eye strain rising from 14.7% to 58.9% and headache from 11.1% to 45.3%. Longer VR session duration and higher screen time were significant predictors of reduced accommodative function. Conclusion: VR use significantly impairs accommodation and binocular vision in the short term and increases visual discomfort among young adults. Controlled usage and preventive strategies are essential to ensure safe and sustainable use of VR technology