3D TVs Can Cause Health Issues

If you’re planning on getting one of those new 3D TVs, make sure you read the warning label! If you’re pregnant, drunk, or tired, watching 3D TV could cause health issues. If you’re at risk for strokes or epileptic seizures, you’ll need to consult your doctor before watching a 3D TV. We read about this on CNN.com. Even if you’re not in one of those health categories, you could still be at risk. Apparently viewing 3D TV can cause motion sickness, nausea, disorientation, and eyestrain – among other things! The effects are so intense for some people that the manufacturers recommend not putting the TV next to open stairwells, cables, balconies, or other objects that can be tripped over, run into, knocked down, broken, or fallen over.
Here’s why it’s a problem for some people: a 3D image creates the illusion of depth when the brain fuses two, slightly different images projected on a screen. Experts call it ‘sensory conflict’ because it creates confusion and makes the brain think it’s been poisoned. That may sound far-fetched, but experts say that when we get poisoned, our bodies are triggered to throw up to get rid of what’s making us sick. While the 3D technology isn’t literally poisoning us, the sensory conflict can cause our brains to react by telling us to throw up.
Some people can’t do the 3D thing because they have problems related to the vestibular system. That’s the network of nerves, fluids, and ear canals that connect to the brain and help keep us balanced and oriented. Diseases like multiple sclerosis and inner ear conditions can contribute to vestibular disorders, and close to half of adults over the age of 40 suffer from them! The 3D experience isn’t just a problem for middle-aged people. Some younger folks are affected, too. They could be ‘stereoblind,’ which means that they don’t see properly out of both eyes. Or they may simply feel motion sickness from the 3D experience.
So what should you do if you’ve already bought a 3D TV or you’re planning to buy one? When watching, take frequent breaks. If you do feel sick, stop watching and don’t try to watch again until at least 30 minutes after your symptoms have subsided.