Doctors: Children Under 6 Should Avoid 3D Movies

Pre-schoolers who feel sick when watching should see an optometrist.

3D movies could be a danger to young eyes, says an Australian optometry group. Senior resident optometrist Luke Arundel of Optometry Australia said the special glasses used to watch 3D movies commonly gave pre-schoolers headaches, and made them tired and nauseous due to the strain on their visual systems. Since younger viewers were not used to processing the different images for the left and right eyes required to create the 3D effect, Optometry Australia advises that they avoid such movies entirely. For older children, aged seven to 13, the doctors suggest moderate use — a movie a day, perhaps, but not the whole day in front of a 3D television. Since 3D movies and television are relatively new, there are no studies on the long-term effects of the technologies. But, for now, as with children using tablets and smartphones, doctors advise caution. “Balance screen time with green time,” says Arundel.

Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald