Can viewing three-D products cause vision damage or interrupt eye health/development?

Research has not produced any short or long-term definitive studies proving the use of three-D products causes eye/vision damage or harms the health and development of the eyes of a child four years of age and older.


Signs and Symptoms:

Motion sickness, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, eye fatigue, eyestrain and headaches top the list of complaints from users of three-D products. All of the symptoms improve with discontinued use of the three-D product or limiting the length of use by taking periodic breaks when discomforts from symptoms develop.


Cautions/Warnings:

Some companies (Nintendo) making three-D products have included warnings for prolonged use of the product (such as three-D video games). Prolonged use of the products using up-close viewing of the screen leads to eye fatigue/strain promoting headaches especially in younger users.


Special Groups:

Individuals with special needs should pay close attention when using three-D products. Individuals with seizure disorders should use caution when viewing three-D images on a movie screen, television, video game console or computer monitor.

**Anyone with a family history of epileptic seizures or strokes should consult a doctor before viewing three-D images. Viewing flashing lights or graphics in three-D form can produce a seizure or stroke for individuals dealing with Epilepsy.


**Some eye doctors recommend caution for the use of three-D products for children under the age of three. Normally, the ability to view three-D images develops in the child’s everyday social setting and can be fully completed by the age of three or four. Therefore, children under age of three should not be exposed to three-D imaging techniques.


Using Three-D Products to Identify Vision Disorders:

A healthy Child who consistently complains that three-D images are fuzzy or unclear, eye fatigue (eyes dry or hurt) and headaches when using three-D products may indicate the presence of a vision/eye disorder. The two vision disorders commonly related to the used of three-D viewing is myopia (lazy eye) and Strabismus (misaligned eyes). Any child or adult experiencing headaches or eye fatigue with unclear pictures/images when using three-D digital devices should have a comprehensive eye exam from an ophthalmologist (Eye M. D.).

Three-D Digital Products offer the opportunity for a different view of a movie, video game graphics and computer images and with periodic breaks and common sense use the three-D technology is safe and should not damage healthy vision.

Enjoy the three-D technology but play safe and protect your vision.