Are There Any Unhealthy Side Effects to Watching 3D?

Question: Are There Any Unhealthy Side Effects to Watching 3D?

Answer: With 3D for the home being pushed aggressively by movie studios and TV makers, academic discussion about the short and long-term effects of watching 3D is getting more attention. Although there hasn't been any comprehensive studies done to determine if watching 3D on regular basis is really harmful, there are some that have done work in 3D technology that are sounding some health and safety alarms.

For one interesting perspective on the potential health and safety effects of continued 3D viewing, check out the reports by This Is Brand X via The Third Dimension Report and About.com Headaches/Migraines, as well as a study commissioned by Samsung that reveals potential eye-strain factors under certain setup conditions and how the content is displayed. Also, for an alternate view, check out the reports from Gamasutra.

Frankly, although some consumers may experience varying degrees of discomfort from watching 3D TV for an extended period of time, and persons that do have motion or eyesight disorders should be cautious when viewing 3D, I think Samsung's statement is a little overboard. However, in this era of excessive phony litigation, it may be that Samsung is just trying to cover their butts.

Return to the 3D Home Theater Basics FAQ Intro Page