Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
Safety of virtual reality use in children: a systematic review
Charlotte Bexson1, Geralyn Oldham1, Jo Wray2
1Data Research, Innovation and Virtual Environments, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Insights
This systematic review found limited evidence of harm from short virtual reality (VR) use in children under 14. However, safety data reporting is poor, necessitating further research on cybersickness and adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Medical Technology Safety
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) use is expanding in pediatrics for various therapeutic applications.
- Limited safety guidelines exist for VR use in young children.
- Existing literature on VR safety in children under 14 is scarce.
Approach:
- A systematic review of literature was conducted in January 2023.
- Searches were performed in PubMed and EMBASE using keywords related to VR, pediatrics, and safety.
- Twenty-six studies were included after screening, with data synthesized narratively.
Key Points:
- Limited data suggest potential for mild cybersickness and temporary double vision in amblyopic children.
- Two randomized controlled trials found no significant adverse event differences between VR and control groups.
- Safety data reporting was inadequate, with poor definition, categorization, and recording of adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Evidence on potential harms from short, supervised VR exposure in children under 14 is limited.
- Further research is needed to understand cybersickness and the impact of repeated VR exposure.
- Accurate recording of adverse events is crucial for identifying potential safety concerns in pediatric VR use.
Abstract:
The study aimed to systematically review available literature regarding the safety of virtual reality (VR) use via head-mounted display in children under 14 years of age. The study was a systematic review including all study designs. A search was conducted in January 2023 in PubMed and EMBASE using key terms referring to 'virtual reality', 'paediatrics' and 'safety'. Following title and abstract and full-text screening, data were extracted and a narrative synthesis undertaken. Twenty-six studies met criteria for inclusion in the final review. Limited data suggest that VR may cause mild cybersickness symptoms (not severe enough to cause participants to discontinue use of VR) and that for children with existing amblyopia using VR may result in double vision, which resolves on cessation of VR exposure. Two randomised control trials did not report differences in adverse events between the intervention (VR use) and control groups. Reporting of safety data was poor; only two studies used a validated measure, and in the remaining studies, it was often unclear how adverse events were defined (if at all), how they were categorised in terms of severity and how they were recorded. Conclusion: There is limited evidence regarding any potential harms from short exposure to VR in children under 14 years under supervision. Additional research is required to understand increases in cybersickness during and after VR exposure, and the impact of repeated exposure. Adverse events need to be accurately and routinely recorded to determine any hitherto unknown safety concerns for children < 14 years using VR. What is Known: • Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being applied in paediatrics, with benefits in terms of anxiety reduction, improved pain management associated with procedures, as an adjunct to physiotherapy and supporting treatments in autistic spectrum disorder.. • Safety guidance in relation to VR use, particularly in younger children, is limited. What is New: • A systematic review of available literature regarding the safety of VR use via head-mounted display in children under 14 years of age demonstrated limited evidence regarding any potential harms from short exposure to VR.. • Studies rarely report safety data and adverse side effects are poorly defined, measured and/or reported. • The lack of a validated measure for evaluating VR-associated symptoms in children compounds the challenging ethical issues of undertaking research into the effects of VR on younger children.
