3-D Technology Harmful To Your Eyes?

PALM SPRINGS – Three-dimensional movies like ‘Avatar’ wowed us with it’s magical display of images.

“I think the technology is here to stay,” says professor Martin Banks. Hesays if it’s done incorrectly,3D movies or 3DTV can cause eye strain and headaches for some viewers, particularly younger one.

“So when you hit your 50’s and 60’s we think that concern is going to be reduced. So that is probably more problematic for young adults, teenagers, et cetera,” Banks says.

It’s why he conducted a study of the impact of3D on the eyes. Normally our eyes come together when looking at something nearby and move apart when looking at something far away. They have to focus as its happening.3D changes this. It’s called ‘Vergence Accommodation Conflict.’ Professor Banks is in Rancho Mirage to present his research to movie and digital media insiders.

“In stereo media they’re frequently disconnected or uncorrelated so you might have to concentrate your eyes to something near but focus your eyes on something far. So you have to break that normal coupling between avergence and accommodation. What we showed in our study is that need to uncouple it did cause fatigue and it did cause eye strain, headaches, things like that.”

Millions of people wear 3D glasses to watch movies like ‘Avatar’ and with 3D technology becoming more and more popular, you may see yourself wearing 3D glasses like these in your home.

“It’s a whole new experience and it’s an immersive experience. The best stuff you can see in the theater can now be seen at home,” says Peter Fannon with Panasonic.

And with retailers selling 3DTVs as early as this Spring, it could mean a change in the way we watch TV.