subject: Does the 3DS Burn Your Eyeballs? Hardly [print this page] Does the 3DS Burn Your Eyeballs? Hardly Does the 3DS Burn Your Eyeballs? Hardly
Ever since watching E3 last year, of which I proudly admit to skipping class for, I've been stoked for Nintendo's new 3DS. Promised to showcase a fully 3D gaming experience without the need of glasses, the 3DS became my most highly anticipated buy of 2011. Now I understand that with every revolutionary idea there is going to be some disapproval from the public (although really how can a lifelike Link, Kirby, or Mario be all that horrible?), but the recent claims that the 3DS will harm your vision did strike my interest. Girl Blinded By Video Game not too appealing.
What I found was very reassuring. For our eyes to see images in 3D, as the 3DS displays them, the muscles in the eyeball physically move back and forth rapidly as we focus on the multiple images, thus creating a 3D image in our minds. For the average person with no vision problems there are no complications. But for someone who does have vision problems to begin with, the eyes can become strained from over exertion of these muscles. However it's good to note that those who do have glasses are still able to play with them on with no complications. For myself, having 20/20 vision I'm convinced I won't have a problem with the 3DS, a huge relief.
Now having no children I'm not particularly concerned with the 6 and under rule, but I did come across some very interesting information. The eyes are not fully developed until around the ages of 6 or 7, because of this Nintendo released a statement that the 3DS would not be recommended to young children. Worse case scenario, them being sued by a horde of angry parents for LASIK eye surgery bills. Now what I found was a release from the American Optometric Association which claimed quite the opposite. If a child's eyes are developing normally they are quite alright to be viewing the 3D images the 3DS will produce. Furthermore, if a child is found to have problems viewing the 3D images it would be a very easy way to detect abnormal vision development. Eye development problems are actually easier to fix when younger. Personally because there is still the controversy I wouldn't allow my own hypothetical children to play until extensive research was done with the 3DS specifically. But as someone who is over the age of 7 I'm not going to waste my time worrying over this.
It is good to note as well that symptoms of headaches or blurry vision after using the 3DS are not complications of deteriorating vision. Simply blink more. 3D images and movies naturally cause us to blink less. A good tip I found was the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes simply pause the game, close your eyes until they no longer sting (caused by not blinking), then focus for 20 seconds on something 20 feet away.
Is the burning eyeball controversy going to affect your gaming experience?
