Survey: Parents worry over effects of evolving technology on children’s vision

ST. LOUIS — More than half of adults surveyed feel that 3D viewing may harm their children’s vision, according to an American Optometric Association press release.

According to the AOA’s American Eye-Q survey, 53% of respondents with children 18 years old or younger believe 3D viewing is harmful to a child’s vision or eyes, with 29% concerned that prolonged use of computers or handheld electronic devices may be damaging, the release said.

“Today’s classroom technology is extremely visual, making it critical for students to maintain excellent eye health,” James Sheedy, OD, PhD, an AOA technology and vision expert, said in the release. “Quite simply, people who have even a small vision misalignment or those who don’t have equal vision in both eyes may not be able to see 3D images properly. Watching images in 3D can unmask issues such as lazy eye, convergence insufficiency, poor focusing skills and other visual problems students might not have previously known existed.”

The AOA estimates that between 3 and 9 million people have problems with binocular vision, prohibiting them from viewing 3D images. Ten percent of survey respondents report their child experienced headaches when viewing 3D images; 7% indicated nausea; and 6% said their kids felt dizzy after using the technology, according to the release.

For more information on 3D vision, or to download a copy of “3D in the Classroom – An AOA Report,” visit www.3deyehealth.org.