The 3Ds of Stereoscopic 3D Viewing

James Cameron began planning Avatar about 15 years before it was actually filmed. During the process he assisted with development of important 3D workflow tools used by subsequent 3D movies.

Filmmakers are worried that if you see a movie that was not converted well, you may choose to NOT go to another 3D movie. Is that true???

Audiences have voted - Over 70% of use choose the 3D version over the 2D version - even with the price premium.

  • Discomfort:
    Since 3D viewing is based on the eyes converging in front of or beyond the screen, viewing 3D images can potentially create eyestrain and headaches. Consumers can reduce the conflict by sitting at a greater distance from the screen.
  • Dizziness:
    3D technology can exaggerate visual motion hypersensitivity (VMH), which can cause motion sickness, and vergence-accommodation conflict, causing consumers to feel dizzy or nauseous during or after viewing 3D content.
  • Lack of Depth:
    A viewer lacking binocular vision, simply won't see 3D. While this doesn't pose any problem viewing the screen, it serves as a "vision screening" that something is abnormal with the viewer's binocular vision.
Click here to read about treatment techniques for children and adults who experience the "Three Ds" associated with 3D viewing.

The vision demands of 3D are very specific and include precise eye-tracking and alignment along with balanced and clear focus at all times. For children and adults who experience any of the "Three Ds"—discomfort, dizziness or lack of depth—associated with 3D viewing, a doctor of optometry can prescribe treatments for patients that correct the problems that may be interfering with viewing 3D content.

In many cases it may be a simple refractive error or a misalignment of the eyes that may have otherwise gone undiagnosed. Correcting these conditions with glasses or contact lenses may also be helpful in better assuring visual health for 3D as well as other activities such as reading.

Optometric vision therapy, a sequence of therapeutic procedures individually prescribed and monitored by an optometrist to develop efficient visual skills and processing, may also be part of the treatment plan.

Overall, you can be assured that comprehensive optometric care will help re-educate the brain to achieve single, clear, comfortable, two-eyed vision that improves eye coordination, focusing and eye movement, ultimately enhancing the 3D viewing experience.

3D Fun & Games Section

Play the Clever Frog game. Can you make it through all 24 levels?