Impact of 3D Movies on Your Health?

HOLLYWOOD - If you haven’t seen a 3-D movie this year, you’re in the minority. The new technology is behind the biggest blockbusters this year. You might want to think twice before putting those 3-d glasses on. Hollywood’s cashing in on 3-D. “Avatar,“ “Alice in Wonderland,“ and “Clash of the Titans” are some of the biggest box office hits of 2010

But while audiences seem wild for the films; a new study suggests that 3-D can have side effects; like headaches and eye strain. Dr. Mark Fromer agrees, saying your chances of feeling symptoms increase the longer you wear the 3-D glasses .

“When we look at a 3d movie, the image is actually in two different places, it’s behind in one area, in front in another area and our brain is not used to assimilating those two images together, so it takes a new talent that we don’t normally have,” Dr. Mark Fromer said

3-D is not just on the big screen. Television manufacturers are embracing the technology and now 3D is available at home.

But the small screen doesn’t eliminate the side effects. Samsung has put warnings on their 3-D tv’s saying pregnant women, children, teenagers the sleep deprived; or anyone with a history of epilepsy or strokes or under the influence of alcohol should avoid 3-D.

George Sifotes remembers when he watched Avatar.“I remember I got kind of dizzy and a little bit of headache and that’s why i don’t watch those kind of movies no more much,” Sifontes said.

The side effects aren’t permanent. “The fatigue, blurred vision, headache will go away for over time but there’s definitely a sensory overload to the brain,” Dr. Fromer said.
So its up to audiences to decide if this..is worth the potential headache.
Sandra Hughes,

source: CBS News, Hollywood