Effects of video game practice on visual and visuocognitive functions

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Video game-based visual stimulation may influence visual attention, oculomotor control, and perceptual processing, which are clinically relevant functions in optometric assessment and vision rehabilitation. BACKGROUND: The aim of this review is to quantitatively evaluate the effects of video-game practice on visual function, both in comparative (video-game players vs. non-players) and pre-post intervention designs, and to explore potential moderators such as age, type of game, and study design. METHODS: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, and Google Scholar (January 2000-June 2025). Eligible studies included cross-sectional, quasi-experimental, and randomised/controlled pre-post designs reporting quantitative visual outcomes. Standardised mean differences (Hedges g) were calculated. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, and Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. RESULTS: values confirmed the robustness of findings. Methodological quality was high or moderate in 96% of studies, with low risk of systematic bias. CONCLUSIONS: Video-game practice is associated with consistent and large improvements in visual, attentional, and oculomotor performance, supporting experience-dependent visual plasticity. These findings reinforce the translational potential of gaming-based paradigms and may contribute to the development of clinically applicable tools for visual rehabilitation.