Star Trek into Darkness, The Great Gatsby, Jurassic Park IMAX 3D. What’s coming soon to a theatre near you? Lots of fun, action—and maybe feeling sick. Dizziness, nausea, eyestrain… often part of the 3D movie experience. If you’re a roller coaster fan, it’s all good. If you’re not, you may be in for a few ups and downs of your virtual stomach.
I’ve written before about the queasy consequences of 3D, but as the ads for summer releases roll out, it’s time again for a reminder that not every kid (or adult) can handle 3D. This video from Discovery News cites a new study finding that about 55% of 3D movie spectators have adverse side effects.
- About 50% report eyestrain or blurred vision.
- 1 in 5 report headaches, disorientation, or feeling off-balance.
- 1 in 10 feel nauseated.
While the consensus is that it’s safe for your child to watch 3D movies, anyone who has a problem like strabismus or a history of motion sickness is advised to skip it.
“Reverse motion sickness”
As the Discovery News host explains, 3D movies put our visual brains into overdrive as we try to interpret exaggerated visual effects and not-quite-true-to-reality views from cameras that our brain tries to connect.
Here’s an example: It’s JurassicPark 3D, and you’re racing through the jungle with a velociraptor hot on your trail. Your body relies on many systems to stay upright, judge depth, and make your way through space. Your visual system plays a huge role, as does the inner ear, and even cells in your ligaments tell you where your joints are. They all communicate to your brain where your body is and how it’s moving.
Problem is, it’s JurassicPark 3D, the movie. While your visual system says you’re racing through the jungle, your body is slouched down like a giant pack of M&Ms in a theatre chair, and the only moving going on is a popcorn bicep curl. 3D sets the stage for brain confusion.
A quick fix: close your eyes
Until the movie magicians improve the technology, a quick fix is simple: take a break and close your eyes. Take several, and train your kids to do the same. For most, the side effects should be as easy to shake off as, say, a 3D velociraptor.
A pioneer in vision therapy and developmental optometry, Dr. Lynn Hellerstein is the founder of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, PC. For more than 40 years, she has helped thousands of children and adults improve their vision and transform their lives — at home, in the classroom and on the sports field.
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